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Days after beating Carlsen, Pranav Venkatesh victorious at 5th Shaastra Rapid Rating Open 2023

by Shahid Ahmed - 16/03/2023

11 days after beating Magnus Carlsen in a Late Titled Tuesday, GM Pranav Venkatesh won 5th Shaastra Rapid Rating Open 2023. Both Pranav and IM Ravi Teja S scored 8/9 each. However, Pranav won the tournament due to better tie-breaks. This is Pranav's second consecutive tournament triumph of the year after he won Promethean Rapid Rating Open exactly a month ago. IM FT Muthaiah Al edged four more players who scored 7.5/9 to finish third. The reigning National Junior champion and Asian Junior Girls Silver and Bronze medalist, WIM Rakshitta Ravi scored an impressive 7.5/9 to finish fifth. She is the only female player to make a top 20 finish. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹500000. Top three prizes were ₹65000, ₹45000 and ₹30000 along with a trophy each. Check out a huge report of the final day. Photo: Shahid Ahmed

Rakshitta and Aakash make an impressive comeback

It does not matter if one falters, what matters is how quickly they are able to get back up and finish strong. WIM Rakshitta Ravi lost her third round game and then chained five victories in a row including against IM Rathanvel V S. Similarly, former National Under-9 Open champion, Aakash G lost his second round game, then he followed with four wins in-a-row including a win against the World Rapid 2022 Women's Bronze medalist. He finished the tournament by scoring a victory over the top seed and the defending champion, GM Vishnu Prasanna. Both Rakshitta and Aakash scored 7.5/9 each. They were placed fifth and seventh according to tie-breaks.

Champion - GM Pranav Venkatesh 8/9 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed
Winner of 5th Shaastra Rapid Rating Open 2023 - GM Pranav Venkatesh | Video: ChessBase India

In case you missed the game where GM Pranav Venkatesh defeated GM Magnus Carlsen, you can check it out here:

16-year-old Pranav demolishes Carlsen | Video: ChessBase India

Runner-up - IM Ravi Teja S 8/9 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed
Runner-up IM Ravi Teja S talks about how he managed to remained undefeated and finally making a podium finish | Video: ChessBase India

Second Runner-up - IM FT Muthaiah Al 7.5/9 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed
Winner of the third edition, IM FT Muthaiah Al secured third place | Video: ChessBase India

The top three finishers with the organizing team of Shaastra IIT Madras and the arbiters | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

Round 5: An exciting start to Day 2

The very first of the second day had an explosive start. Six out of the top seven boards had decisive results. The Blitz king of India, GM Laxman R R (2232) defeated the top seed of the tournament and the defending champion, GM Vishnu Prasanna (2456). Bharat Kumar Reddy Poluri (2158) scored a big upset over India's 73rd GM Bharath Subramaniyam H (2395).

GM Laxman R R - GM Vishnu Prasanna: 1-0 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

GM Pranav Venkatesh showed his mastery in the queen and knight endgame until his opponent GM Thej Kumar crumbled | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

Bharath - Bharat

Black to play

Black is completely winning here. Find out the correct continuation.

The battle of Bharats was won by Bharat Kumar Reddy Poluri | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

Round 6: Pranav gains sole lead

GM Pranav Venkatesh (2462) defeated the reigning Telangana State Senior champion, Bharat Kumar Reddy Poluri (2158) to gain sole lead 6/6.

Bharat Kumar Reddy Poluri - GM Pranav Venkatesh: 0-1 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

GM Deepan Chakkravarthy - IM Muthaiah Al: 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

IM Ravi Teja S - GM Laxman R R: 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

FM Senthil Maran K - IM Kushagra Mohan: 1-0 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

Veteran Sridhar C S held IM Rathanvel V S to a draw | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

Round 7: Pranav draws with Deepan, Muthaiah and Laxman catch up

GM Pranav Venkatesh drew with GM Deepan Chakkravarthy in an exciting encounter. It allowed IM FT Muthaiah Al and GM Laxman R R to join him in the lead 6.5/7 as they defeated FM Senthil Maran K and Bharat Kumar Reddy Poluri respectively.

GM Pranav Venkatesh had a well contested draw with GM Deepan Chakkravarthy | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

CM Adireddy Arjun - IM Ravi Teja S: 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

IM FT Muthaiah Al - FM Senthil Maran K: 1-0 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

The newly crowned Pondicherry District and State Blitz, and former World Amateur U-2000 champion, Peter Anand showed his gritty defense against GM Bharath Subramaniyam H to draw the double bishop vs bishop and knight endgame. Both of them and the spectators knew that it was a draw, however, Bharath had a few tricks left and Peter had to make sure not to fall for them.

Peter Anand played accurately in the endgame against GM Bharath Subramaniyam H | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

Round 8: Seven in the lead 7/8

GM Laxman R R and GM Vishnu Prasanna drew with GM Pranav Venkatesh and IM FT Muthaiah Al rerspectively. It created an opportunity for four more players to get in the lead. Aswath S, IM Ravi Teja S, WIM Rakhitta Ravi and CM Gireman Ja got themselves in the lead by scoring victories against GM Deepan Chakkravarthy, Sree Veeramani P, IM Rathanvel V S and CM Adireddy Arjun.

Laxman - Pranav

White to play

The game continued 1.Qg5 Re8 2.Nf6+ Kf8 3.Nxh7+ Kg8 which is also winning for White. However, there was a better way in the above diagram. Try to find out how.

GM Laxman R R had a great opportunity to score a win against GM Pranav Venkatesh | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

GM Vishnu Prasanna - IM FT Muthaiah Al: 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

GM Deepan Chakkravarthy lost to the reigning 47th National Sub-Junior Open champion, Aswath S | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

IM Ravi Teja S - Sree Veeramani P: 1-0 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

WIM Rakshitta Ravi - IM Rathanvel V S: 1-0 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

CM Gireman Ja (pictured) - Adireddy Arjun: 1-0 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

Round 9: Pranav and Ravi score

Out of the seven leaders at 7/8, only GM Pranav Venkatesh and IM Ravi Teja S scored a win each. They defeated CM Gireman Ja and Aswath S respectively. Pranav won the tournament due to better tie-breaks and Ravi was placed second.

GM Pranav Venkatesh - CM Gireman Ja: 1-0 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

Aswath S - IM Ravi Teja S: 0-1 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

IM FT Muthaiah Al - GM Laxman R R: 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

Aditya Sadhu - WIM Rakshitta Ravi: 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

Former National Under-9 Open champion, Aakash G defeated the top seed and the defending champion, GM Vishnu Prasanna to finish seventh | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

GM Bharath Subramaniyam H - FM FT Matta Vinaykumar: 0-1 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

CM Adireddy Arjun defeated World Rapid 2022 Women Bronze medalist, WIM Savitha Shri B in the final round to finish 12th | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

Photo Gallery

4th GM Laxman R R 7.5/9 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

5th WIM Rakshitta Ravi 7.5/9 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

The reigning 51st National Junior Girls champion, Asian Junior 2022 Girls Silver and Bronze medalist, WIM Rakshitta Ravi delivered a stellar performance by scoring 7.5/9. She was the highest female performer and only girl to finish in top 20.

National Junior champion and Asian Junior Silver and Bronze medalist, WIM Rakshitta Ravi | Video: ChessBase India

6th FM FT Matta Vinaykumar 7.5/9 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

7th Aakash G 7.5/9 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

8th GM Deepan Chakkravarthy 7/9 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

9th Bharat Kumar Reddy Poluri 7/9 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

10th IM Rathanvel V S 7/9 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

11th CM Gireman Ja 7/9 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

12th Adireddy Arjun 7/9 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

13th Aditya Sadhu 7/9 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed
One of the main organizers of the tournament - Aditya Sadhu | Video: ChessBase India

14th Sree Veeramani P 7/9 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

15th IM Kushagra Mohan 7/9 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

For more photos, click here.

Chief Guest of the closing ceremony - India's 66th GM and youngest National Senior champion of India, GM FT Akash G | Video: ChessBase India
Asian School U-7 triple Gold medalist and the reigning 35th National U-7 champion, The 100% Girl - Sharvaanica A S | Video: ChessBase India

More game videos and interviews will published in time, stay tuned.

 

A total of 375 players including 6 GMs, 6 IMs, a WGM and 2 WIMs took part from various states across the country and one from USA. The tournament was organized by Shaastra IIT Madras at IIT Madras on 11th and 12th March, presented by Akshayakalpa. The time control of the tournament was 15 minutes + 10 seconds increment

Round 9 results

Bo.No.NameRtgClub/CityPts.ResultPts.NameRtgClub/CityNo.
12GMPranav V2462TN71 - 07CMGireman Ja2092TN21
228Aswath S2044TN70 - 17IMRavi Teja S.2357AP5
38IMMuthaiah Al2316TN7½ - ½7GMLaxman R.R.2232ICF12
438Sadhu S Adithya1916IITM½ - ½7WIMRakshitta Ravi2044TN27
550Aakash G1797TN1 - 0GMVishnu Prasanna. V2496TN1
64GMBharath Subramaniyam H2395TN0 - 1FMMatta Vinay Kumar2087UBI23
741Badrinath S.1859PUD60 - 16GMDeepan Chakkravarthy J.2405ICF3
86IMKushagra Mohan2335TEL61 - 06AGMMani Bharathy1808TN47
97IMRathanvel V S2326TN61 - 06Peter Anand A1829PUD43
1042CMAdireddy Arjun1855TEL61 - 06WIMSavitha Shri B2281TN9
1145Sridhar C S1821TN60 - 16GMThejkumar M. S.2268KA10
1216FMKarthik Rajaa2175TN61 - 06Swarna Nihal1708AP61
1346Suganthan S1811TN60 - 16Bharat Kumar Reddy Poluri2158TEL17
1448Arun R U1806TN60 - 16Kunal M.2138TN18
1522Thrish Karthik2088TN60 - 16CMDaakshin Arun1797TN49
1624FMSenthil Maran K2084TN61 - 06Leelajai Krishna N1642KA67
1752Sham R1773TN60 - 16Rohit S2079TN25
1826FMPrasannaa.S2056TN61 - 06Shanmukha Pulli1617TEL73
1932Nithin Babu1959KEL61 - 06Rohit S1543PUD87
2053Vijay Shreeram P1760TN60 - 16Rindhiya V1932TN35

Details

Final standings

Rk.SNoNameFEDRtgIClub/CityPts. TB1  TB2  TB3  TB4  TB5 
12GMPranav VIND2462TN854,55952,2507
25IMRavi Teja S.IND2357AP8525648,7507
38IMMuthaiah AlIND2316TN7,5545949,0006
412GMLaxman R.R.IND2232ICF7,55458,546,7506
527WIMRakshitta RaviIND2044TN7,5485344,0007
623FMMatta Vinay KumarIND2087UBI7,5485240,7507
750Aakash GIND1797TN7,545,549,541,2507
83GMDeepan Chakkravarthy J.IND2405ICF753,55843,2506
917Bharat Kumar Reddy PoluriIND2158TEL75155,540,0007
107IMRathanvel V SIND2326TN750,554,541,5006
1121CMGireman JaIND2092TN7505540,7506
1242CMAdireddy ArjunIND1855TEL749,553,539,5006
1338Sadhu S AdithyaIND1916IITM748,552,538,7506
1472Sree Veeramani PIND1620TN748,552,537,5007
156IMKushagra MohanIND2335TEL74852,539,2506
1624FMSenthil Maran KIND2084TN7485238,7506
1716FMKarthik RajaaIND2175TN747,552,540,7505
1810GMThejkumar M. S.IND2268KA747,551,534,0006
1928Aswath SIND2044TN74751,538,0007
2049CMDaakshin ArunIND1797TN7475138,0006
2132Nithin BabuIND1959KEL74650,537,2506
2226FMPrasannaa.SIND2056TN7465036,0007
2318Kunal M.IND2138TN745,55037,5007
2425Rohit SIND2079TN742,54735,2506
2535Rindhiya VIND1932TN74144,534,5007

Details

Links

Shaastra IIT Madras: Official site, facebook, instagram, twitter and youtube

Akshayakalpa: Official site, linkedin, facebook, instagram, twitter and youtube