Gukesh wins Late Shailesh Nerlikar Memorial Online Blitz Open

by Shahid Ahmed - 04/07/2020

GM Gukesh D and GM Aravindh Chithambaram both scored 7.5/9, however Gukesh won Late Shailesh Nerlikar Memorial Online Blitz Open due to a better tie-break score. Aravindh was placed second. Six players finished with 7.0/9, out of them IM Terry Renato of Peru secured the second runner-up position according to the tie-break score. Victorious Chess Academy organized this event and sponsored ₹33000 total prize fund, IM Sagar Shah contributed another ₹12000 to make the total prize fund ₹45000. Total 102 players including 10 GMs, 15 IMs, 2 WGMs and 4 WIMs from India, Ireland, Peru, Russia and USA took part in this event.

Gukesh and Aravindh both finish at 7.5/9

GM Gukesh D and GM Aravindh Chithambaram both finished at 7.5/9, however Gukesh won the tournament due to better tie-breaks. Aravindh had to settle for second position. Six players finished at 7.0/9, Peruvian IM Terry Renato was placed third according to tie-breaks.

Total 102 players including 10 GMs, 15 IMs, 2 WGMs and 4 WIMs from India, Ireland, Peru, Russia and USA took part in this nine-round Swiss League event.

GM D Gukesh wins Late Shailesh Nerlikar Memorial Online Blitz Open with 7.5/9

Gukesh survived a scare

In the sixth round, Gk06 (GM Gukesh) survived a checkmate in three and then a draw in the end against STRANGE (IM Aronyak Ghosh).

STRANGE - Gk06, Round 6

Position after 42...Kf5

Find out why 42...Kf5 is a blunder and what black should have played instead.

Position after 68.f4

The game is a draw but white has to play carefully to make sure he does not lose the game. Of course it is difficult to do so in a time control with no increment and the only way to survive is by making a premove which makes it that much more difficult.

IM Aronyak Ghosh scored 7.0/9 and finished sixth | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

Babysnake bests Gk06

Gk06 (GM D Gukesh) suffered his only loss in Round 4 against Babysnake (IM Mitrabha Guha) after the latter converted a favorable position with ease.

Babysnake - Gk06, Round 4

Position after 25.Qe2

It is evident that white is dominating the position and with correct play white wrapped up the game in the next 15 moves.

IM Mitrabha Guha finished ninth with 6.5/9 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

GM Aravindh Chithambaram scored 7.5/9 and finished as the first runner-up | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Terry got Hitter

TerryR (IM Terry Renato) of Peru was the only person to beat reigning National Triple Crown champion Hitter1999 (GM Aravindh Chithambaram) in Round 2.

Peruvian IM Terry Renato scored 7.0/9 and finished third

WIM Sakshi Chitlange wins the Best Woman prize with a score of 6.0/9

Final Standings

Main Prize winners (Top 10)

Rank	Name	Score	Prize money
1	GM D Gukesh	7.5	₹6818
2	GM Aravindh Chithambaram	7.5	₹4100
3	IM Terry Renato	7	₹2727
4	GM Laxman R R	7	₹1364
5	IM Koustav Chatterjee	7	₹954
6	IM Aronyak Ghosh	7	₹818
7	IM Aditya Mittal	7	₹545
8	GM Diptayan Ghosh	7	₹545
9	IM Mitrabha Guha	6.5	₹545
10	GM Visakh N R	6.5	₹545

Best Women

1	WIM Sakshi Chitlange	6	₹1364
2	WFM Savitha Shri B	6	₹818
3	WGM P V Nandhidhaa	5.5	₹545

Rating 1801-2000

1	Anand Sivasankar (1853)	5	₹1364
2	Kiran Panditrao (1898)	5	₹818
3	Arunava Bhattacharjee (1857)	5	₹545

Rating 1601-1800

1	Vrashank Chouhan (1795)	6	₹1364
2	Arvind Ramnath (1602)	5	₹818
3	Vishvesh Kochrekar (1663)	5	₹545

Rating 1000-1600

1	Yashwant Telang (1525)	6	₹1364
2	Rakesh Kulkarni (1409)	5	₹818
3	Sachin Salam (1593)	5	₹545

Best Unrated

1	Rahul Anil Bhagwat	4.5	₹1364
2	Sameer Gore	4.5	₹818
3	Yogesh Maheta	4	₹545

Specially Abled

Aditya Asaram Ghule

₹1364

Best VCA Students

1	Ameya Anil Munemane	5	₹1364
2	Disha Dhore	5	₹1091
3	Advaith Krishnan	4	₹954
4	Yash Ankaikar	4	₹818
5	Lokesh	4	₹545

Lucky Prizes

20th	Shiv Shome	6	₹545
30th	IM Sayantan Das	5.5	₹545
40th	WGM Leya Garifullina	5	₹545
50th	Kapil Lohana	4.5	₹545
60th	Satish Thakur	4	₹545
70th	Archit Saigal	4	₹545
80th	Kiran Bemarkar	3	₹545
90th	Shyam	2.5	₹545
100th	Tanaya Sandeep Tendulkar	2	₹545

Mr. Sachin Salam has sponsored Best Unrated and Specially Abled category prizes. We thank all the participants on behalf of VCA and Nerlikar family. IM Sagar Shah contributed a further ₹12000 to increase the total prize fund to ₹45000