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Harikrishnan and Anuj finish in top 10 at Sitges Open 2019

by Niklesh Jain - 09/08/2019

GM Sergey Volkov of Russia won 45th Open Internacional d'Escacs Vila de Sitges 2019. There was a three-way tie for the first place with a score of 7.0/9. According to the tie-break score, GM Namig Guliyev of Azerbaijan was placed 2nd and IM Raven Sturt of USA finished at 3rd place. India's young talents IM Ra A Harikrishnan and FM Anuj Shrivatri scored 6.5/9 each. They both tied for the 4th place, according to tie-break score they secured 6th and 9th position respectively. Harikrishnan (2401) performed at 2491 and increased his Elo rating by 12 points. Anuj (2372) performed at 2393 and gained 9 Elo rating points. Anuj is 19 Elo rating points away from fulfilling the rating criteria for IM title. Among other Indians, Sreeshwan Maralakshikari drew the final round, finishing with 5.5/9 at 21st position. Photo: Niklesh Jain

45th edition of International Chess Open of Sitges Village concluded on 30th July 2019. Organizing a tournament of this magnitude for 45 editions, shows the importance and impact chess has in Spain. Unlike every year, this time India did not make a podium finish, however young talents like Harikrishnan and Anuj made the country proud by finishing in top 10.

Get the feel of 45th Sitges International Open 2019 | Video: Niklesh Jain

IM Ra A Harikrishnan and FM Anuj Shrivatri both scored 6.5/9 and finished tied 4th | Photo: Niklesh Jain

GM Sergei Volkov (2548) of Russia scored 7.0/9 and clinched the championship due to a better tie-break score | Photo: Niklesh Jain

Volkov's best win was in the eighth round against GM Oliva Castaneda Kevel (2467) of Cuba.

The podium finishers finished at 7.0/9 each (L to R) - 2nd GM Namig Guliyev of Azerbaijan, 1st GM Sergei Volkov of Russia and 3rd IM Raven Sturt of USA | Photo: Niklesh Jain

Despite remaining undefeated throughout the tournament, three consecutive draws in the last three rounds cost him the championship | Photo: Angela

IM Raven Sturt of USA defeated IM Dylan Isidro Berdayes Ason of Cuba in the final round, who was a strong contender for the title | Photo: Niklesh Jain

Cuban IM Dylan Isidro Berdayes Ason scored 6.5/9 and finished 4th | Photo: Niklesh Jain

IM Dylan Isidro Berdayes Ason was leading the tournament until the penultimate round, however a loss in the final round ended his championship hopes. Dylan managed to score a GM-norm for his fantastic performance and his biggest consolation is defeating the eventual champion of the tournament GM Sergei Volkov in round 6.

Dylan has played some fantastic chess excluding the final round

IM Ra A Harikrishnan was the best finisher among Indians | Photo: Niklesh Jain

Harikrishnan (2401) defeated the highest rated Indian player of the tournament Sreeshwan Maralakshikari (2461) in round 7.

Harikrishnan increased his Elo rating by 12 points

Last time FM Anuj Shrivatri scored an IM-norm, however this time he missed another IM-norm by a whisker but he managed to gain 9 Elo rating points | Photo: Niklesh Jain

In spite of losing two consecutive games in round 3 and 4, Anuj made a strong comeback and scored 4.5/5 in the last five games. His last two wins were impressive

FM Sreeshwan Maralakshikari scored 5.5/9 and won best under-16 trophy | Photo: Niklesh Jain

Colombian WIM Chirivi C Jenny Astrid scored 6.0/9 to win best woman prize | Photo: Niklesh Jain

Final Standings in group - A

Rk.SNoNameTypsexGrFEDRtgIRtgNClub/CityPts. TB1  TB2  TB3  TB4 
13GMVolkov SergeyRUS254807,00,0244126002599
22GMGuliyev NamigAZE255107,00,0243325952650
38IMSturt RavenUSA242907,00,0236025262573
46IMBerdayes Ason Dylan IsidroCUB246106,50,0246225542580
54GMMunoz Miguel2495ESP25112571Sant Marti C.E.6,50,0245925582588
612IMHarikrishnan.A.Ra18IND240106,50,0239924912529
719GMPogorelov RuslanA2350UKR23472458Escola Escacs Salou6,50,0239724242454
81GMBaklan VladimirUKR262106,50,0239425042550
915FMAnuj ShrivatriA-18IND237206,50,0228323932383
1016GMGaprindashvili ValerianeAGEO236806,50,0228323362433
119IMValderrama Quiceno Esteban AlbCOL242306,00,0233824142411
125GMOliva Castaneda KevelCUB246706,00,0233424052419
1321FMMateus AlejandroACOL233406,00,0231223502380
1417IMLopez Gonzalez Abel FabianACUB235506,00,0227822962346
1547WIMChirivi C Jenny AstridCwCOL208906,00,0220721922233
1627FMMeessen RudolfABEL226906,00,0217322492234
1718FMHerrera Juan SebastianACOL235305,50,0240023982410
1813IMLacasa Diaz Jose AntonioA2398ESP23912440Gran Penya Vilanova C.E.5,50,0237923892396
1923IMBeltran Rueda SantiagoA2334ESP23262408Sitges Prado Suburenc, C.E.5,50,0236623432431
2030IMVittorino Carlo GiovanniACOL225205,50,0235023272325

Complete standings

ChessBase India group tour memeber Fathima Abdeen won the group - B by scoring 8.0/9 and increased her Elo rating by 83 points | Photo: Niklesh Jain

Top 3 podium finishers went to Indians in group - B. Champion Fathima Abdeen 8.0/9, Runner-up Indian origin AIM Seth Peramunetilleke 7.0/9 and second runner-up ChessBase India Power head AFM Ankit Dalal 7.0/9 | Photo: Niklesh Jain

Final Standings in group - B

Rk.SNoNameTypsexGrFEDRtgIRtgNClub/CityPts. TB1  TB2  TB3  TB4 
144Fathima AbdeenEwIND165208,00,0180620242208
281AIMPeramunetilleke SethF-12HKG140807,00,0176719622077
336AFMAnkit DalalEIND168007,00,0171218562025
449Amit PanchalFIND163406,50,0179518241768
524Gomez Navais MarcalE-181720ESP17681998Vilafranca C.E.6,50,0172518151940
637Gil Provedo VictorE-181704ESP16760Rio6,50,0169017651877
722Bernat Pascual MagiE-181844CAT17772001Vilafranca C.E.6,50,0168517861910
86Flores Linan Jose LuisD1766ESP18522028Barcelona, Club Escacs6,50,0165717661908
916Guasch Guasch FerranD1799ESP18062012Valls C.E.6,50,0165017781807
1041Villa Tornero AlexE-121655ESP16571885Montornes C.E.6,50,0154415891799

Complete standings

WIM Franco Angela of Colombia took photos for ChessBase India along with playing the tournament | Photo: Niklesh Jain

Oh no what did I do? | Photo: Angela

The Indian kids are giving us a lot of headache | Photo: Angela

Uh-oh I shouldn't have done that | Photo: Angela

At last someone took my photo | Photo: Angela

That's all from 45th Sitges International Open 2019 | Photo: Niklesh Jain

Two men who took chess in Sitges to a whole new level. Oscar organizes Sunway Sitges in December every year and Francesco Alonso Gonsalez is organizing Sitges International in July for 45 years | Photo: Niklesh Jain

Like last year, this year also ChessBase India Power team performed fantastic | Photo: Niklesh Jain

We will continue bringing more news from Barcelona...

Translation from Hindi by Shahid Ahmed


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