chessbase india logo

Arjun Adireddy convincingly clinches 22nd Tamil Nadu IM-norm Closed Circuit 2024, Harshad third

by R Anantharam - 15/08/2024

FM Arjun Adireedy scored 7/9 to win 22nd Tamil Nadu IM-norm Closed Circuit Chess Tournament 2024. He finished a half point ahead of the competition. IM Alexander Slizhevsky and FM S Harshad scored 6.5/9 each. They were placed second and third respectively according to tie-breaks. Both Arjun and Harshad scored an IM-norm each. It was Arjun's second IM-norm and also his second triumph in the series. For Harshad, it was his final IM-norm. He also went on to win the 23rd edition. He is now a few rating points away from becoming India's next International Master. Arjun will need to score his final IM-norm in an Open tournament to become an IM. He already crossed 2400 in December 2023 FIDE Rating list. Photos: IA R Anantharam

IM-norms for Arjun and Harshad

14-year-old reigning National Junior champion FM Arjun Adireddy of Telangana won the 22nd Tamil Nadu IM-norm closed circuit chess tournament, organised by Tamil Nadu State Chess Association. He scored seven points in nine rounds and besides winning the title, secured an IM-norm and a cash prize of approximately ₹42000 (US$ 500).

FM Arjun Adireddy of Telangana won his second title of the Tamil Nadu IM-norm tournament series. He receives the trophy from GM P Shyaam Nikhil

Top seed IM Alexander Slizhevsky (RUS) and S Harshad of Coimbatore secured 6.5 points and the former finished runner-up and received ₹25000.

Top seed IM Alexander Slizhevsky is the runner-up to receive a cash award of ₹25000

Harshad completed his third IM-norm and needs to reach 2400 rating to get the IM title.

Harshad achieved this third IM-norm in the tournament and also the third place

The winner of the 21st edition of the tournament and the Tamil Nadu champion - G Aakash of Coimbatore reversed the first round result of IM Alexander in Round 2. The latter was enjoying a definite advantage until the 21st move. In the Najdorf variation of the Sicilian defence, Aakash capitalised on the weak 25th move by his opponent to make an exchange sacrifice. He offered another knight sacrifice to get back the exchange. The four connected pawns of Aakash against two to Alex paved way for the former’s victory.

G Aakash made amends to his first round loss to V S Nandish by beating the top seed IM Slizhevsky in the second round

S Harshad of Coimbatore, winner of the first IM-norm tournament series was in an attacking mood against his city mate and debutant V S Nandish, the Tamil Nadu under 17 champion in the classical variation of the Sicilian defence. He promoted two of his pawns to checkmate Nandish in 56 moves. With this win, Harshad shot into the lead with 2.5 points from three games.

Arjun Adireedy of Telangana, the national junior champion at the age of thirteen, almost checkmated the Slovakian Grandmaster Manik Mikulas in the Accelerated Dragon variation of the Sicilain defence in the fourth round. Arjun after holding an upper hand in the opening and middle stage erred to hand over the same to Mikulas. In a total winning position, Mikulas was in a hurry to promote his pawn and overlooked the checkmating combination of Arjun’s by his rook, knight and bishop.

GM Manik Mikulas (SVK) lost a completely winning position against the national junior champion Adireddy Arjun of Telangana

The dismal performance of grandmaster Annageldyev Orazly of Turkmenistan continued in the second tournament also. With equal materials on the board in the middle game, he mishandled the pieces against the Delhi school boy Daeevik Wadhawan and had to pay the penalty.

The dismal performance of GM Annageldyev Orazly (TKM) continued, losing to the Delhi boy FM Daaevik Wadhawan

Nandish made many dubious moves against WGM Uuriintuya Uurtsaikh (MGL) who played the Sicilian defence. But when the WGM, who was very comfortable with the proceedings, blundered with a rook move, Nandish seized the opportunity to unleash a few good moves to win a minor piece. The task became easier for Nandish when Uuriintuya exchanged the queens.

Nandish in a precarious position took advantage of a blunder by WGM Uuriintuya, to win the game

Arjun Adireddy brightened his title and IM-norm chances with a fluent win over Nandish in the seventh round. His tally of six points in seven rounds enabled him to lead the table, followed by S Harshad with 5.5 points.

Arjun Adireddy emerged sole leader with six points with a win over Nandish in the seventh round

Arjun drew with the top seed IM Alexander Slizhevsky to achieve his second IM-norm; the earlier one was also achieved in the 3rd tournament of the series of the IM-norm tournaments organised by Tamil Nadu State Chess Association. A commendable performance by the National Junior champion, at the age of 14. He needs one more norm from a Swiss tournament for the IM title.

FM Arjun Adireddy drew with IM Alexander Slizhevsky to achieve his second IM-norm

Harshad also made his third IM-norm by splitting the point with GM Manik Mikulas (SVK) and waiting to complete the formality of reaching 2400 rating. It is heartening to note that two out of six Indians have achieved the coveted IM-norms in the tournament and the president of Tamil Nadu State Chess Association Dr. Manickam’s vision is paying dividends.

Dr. Manickam is single handed sponsoring the norm tournaments from 26 to 30. He makes the inaugural move with GM P Shyaam Nikhil, who won the 18th tournament

S Harshad (right) achieved his third IM-norm with a draw against GM Manik Mikulas in the final round

Debutant Vedant Nagakatte of Maharashtra managed to score five points and increased his rating by 33 points.

 

Antony, the Chennai District Sports Officer inaugurated the tournament, in the presence of P Stephen Balasamy General Secretary, Tamil Nadu State Chess Association.

Mr. Antony, DSO, Chennai makes the inaugural move against the top seed IM Alexander Slizhevsky

India's latest Grandmaster P Shyaam Nikhil, himself winner of the 18th tournament in the series, distributed the prizes and motivated the youngsters, in the presence of P Stephen Balasamy, General Secretary, Tamil Nadu State Chess Association and Srinivasan, Treasurer of the association.

Replay all games

Final standings

Rk.SNoNameFEDRtgPts. TB1  TB2  TB3 
18FMAdireddy, ArjunIND23017027,505
21IMSlizhevsky, AlexanderRUS23846,50,526,255
34FMHarshad, SIND22756,50,524,504
46GMManik, MikulasSVK23385121,002
55FMNagarkatte, VedantIND22625018,003
610FMDaaevik, WadhawanIND23244,5014,753
79Nandish, V SIND21854011,004
87WGMUuriintuya, UurtsaikhMGL2214318,502
92CMAakash, GIND22653013,002
103GMAnnageldyev, OrazlyTKM23160,502,500

Details

About the Author

Prof. Rathinam Anantharam is an A-grade international arbiter. Member of FIDE Arbiters’ Commission, Chairman of Titles Commission in All India Chess Federation, Vice President of Tamil Nadu State Chess Association, Chief Arbiter for six world championships, many Asian, International and National Championships.

 

The report was edited by Shahid Ahmed


Related news:
Sriram Adarsh Uppala convincingly wins 28th Tamil Nadu IM-norm CC 2024, Dhruva second and Aakash third

@ 05/10/2024 by S Paul Arokia Raj (en)
Evgeniy Podolchenko wins 27th Tamil Nadu IM-norm Closed Circuit 2024, Sriram Adarh Uppala third

@ 02/10/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
Akshay Borgaonkar dominates 26th Tamil Nadu IM-norm CC 2024, Harshit Pawar second and Harshad third

@ 30/09/2024 by V Vijayaraghavan (en)
Sriram Adarsh Uppala superb at 25th Tamil Nadu IM-norm Closed Circuit 2024

@ 13/09/2024 by M Ephrame (en)
David Gochelashvili wins 24th Tamil Nadu IM-norm Closed Circuit 2024, Kunal M second

@ 08/09/2024 by V Vijayaraghavan (en)
Harshad S dominates 23rd Tamil Nadu IM-norm Closed Circuit 2024

@ 04/09/2024 by R Srivatsan (en)
Aakash G wins 21st Tamil Nadu IM-norm Closed Circuit 2024, Manigandan second

@ 08/08/2024 by S Paul Arokia Raj (en)
Kushagra Mohan wins 20th Tamil Nadu IM-norm Closed Circuit 2024

@ 13/03/2024 by R Srivatsan (en)
Anton Sitnikov triumphs at 19th Tamil Nadu IM-norm Closed Circuit 2024, Avinash Ramesh second

@ 09/03/2024 by R Srivatsan (en)
P Shyam Nikhil wins 18th Tamil Nadu IM-norm Closed Circuit 2024, Aakash G third

@ 02/03/2024 by R Srivatsan (en)
Srihari L dominates 17th Tamil Nadu IM-norm Closed Circuit 2024, Sai Vishwesh third

@ 01/03/2024 by M Ephrame (en)
Anton Sitnikov wins 16th Tamil Nadu IM-norm Closed Circuit 2024, Lokesh second and Suyog third

@ 22/02/2024 by M Ephrame (en)
Anton Sitnikov triumphs at 15th Tamil Nadu IM-norm Closed Circuit 2024, Karthik Rajaa second

@ 21/02/2024 by V Vijayaraghavan (en)
Karthik Rajaa and Lokesh N are the winners of 13th and 14th Tamil Nadu IM-norm Closed Circuit 2024

@ 02/02/2024 by V Vijayaraghavan (en)
Hemanth Raam clinches 11th Tamil Nadu IM-norm Closed Circuit 2024, Harsh Suresh third

@ 01/02/2024 by M Ephrame (en)
Alexei Fedorov wins 10th Tamil Nadu IM-norm Closed Circuit 2023, Suyog Wagh second

@ 22/12/2023 by R Anantharam (en)
David Gochelashvili wins 9th Tamil Nadu IM-norm Closed Circuit 2023

@ 17/12/2023 by R Anantharam (en)
Alexei Fedorov dominates 7th Tamil Nadu IM-norm Closed Circuit 2023, Sai second and Arjun Adireddy third

@ 02/12/2023 by R Anantharam (en)
Alexei Fedorov terrific at 6th Tamil Nadu IM-norm Closed Circuit 2023, Ajay Santhosh Parvathareddy third

@ 25/11/2023 by R Anantharam (en)
Arnav Maheshwari wins 5th Tamil Nadu IM-norm Closed Circuit 2023

@ 19/11/2023 by R Anantharam (en)
Nandhidhaa wins 4th Tamil Nadu IM-norm Closed Circuit 2023, Srihari L second

@ 12/11/2023 by R Anantharam (en)
Arjun Adireddy dominates 3rd Tamil Nadu IM-norm Closed 2023 with a 2709 performance, Harsh second

@ 07/11/2023 by R Anantharam (en)
Asylbek Abdyzhapar triumphs at 2nd Tamil Nadu IM-norm Closed Circuit 2023, Srija Seshadri third

@ 30/10/2023 by R Anantharam (en)
Harshad wins 1st Tamil Nadu IM-norm Closed Circuit 2023, Srihari L second

@ 23/10/2023 by R Anantharam (en)

Contact Us