Harikrishnan dominates Velammal Republic Day Celebration Rapid Rating Open 2023
Fourth seeded IM FT Harikrishnan A Ra scored an unbeaten 8.5/9 to win Velammal Republic Day Celebration Rapid Rating Open 2023. He finished a half point ahead of the field. IM Ajay Karthikeyan scored sole 8/9 to finish second. Three players - Ilamparthi A R, GM Laxman R R and GM Vishnu Prasanna scored 7.5/9 each. They were placed third, fourth and fifth respectively. The total prize fund of the Rapid event was ₹200000. The top three prizes were ₹30000, ₹20000 and ₹15000 each respectively. The one-day Rapid Rating tournament witnessed the participation of 267 players including 3 GMs and 5 IMs. It was organized by Rooks and Knights Academy of Chess.
Consistent Harikrishnan
IM FT Harikrishnan A Ra is consistently doing good since December 2022. He finished third at 7th Johor Open 2022 in Malaysia. Then he secured second place at 1st ENS Rapid Rating Open 2023. Five days later, he won this event. Three days later, he finished second at Republic Day Cup Rapid Rating Open which we will have in a separate report. He remained undefeated in the last three rapid rating events.
A total of 267 players including 3 GMs and 5 IMs took part from various parts of India and one from Bangladesh, Mongolia and USA each. The nine-round Swiss league Rapid Rating tournament took place on 26th January 2023 at Velammal Main Campus, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The event was organized by Rook and Knights Academy of Chess. The time control was 10 minutes + 5 seconds increment.
Final standings
| Rk. | SNo | Name | FED | Rtg | Club/City | Pts. | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 | |
| 1 | 4 | IM | Harikrishnan.A.Ra | IND | 2312 | Tamil Nadu | 8,5 | 54,5 | 59,5 | 56,00 |
| 2 | 3 | IM | Ajay Karthikeyan | IND | 2328 | Tamil Nadu | 8 | 54 | 59,5 | 51,00 |
| 3 | 6 | Ilamparthi A R | IND | 2296 | Tamil Nadu | 7,5 | 52 | 57 | 47,25 | |
| 4 | 8 | GM | Laxman R.R. | IND | 2257 | ICF | 7,5 | 51,5 | 56 | 46,00 |
| 5 | 1 | GM | Vishnu Prasanna. V | IND | 2502 | Tamil Nadu | 7,5 | 51,5 | 55,5 | 45,75 |
| 6 | 7 | Srihari L | IND | 2263 | Puducherry | 7 | 54 | 58,5 | 43,00 | |
| 7 | 15 | Sai Vishwesh.C | IND | 2109 | Tamil Nadu | 7 | 51,5 | 56 | 40,00 | |
| 8 | 12 | Kunal M. | IND | 2151 | Tamil Nadu | 7 | 51,5 | 55,5 | 40,00 | |
| 9 | 24 | Mythireyan P | IND | 1909 | Tamil Nadu | 7 | 51 | 56 | 41,00 | |
| 10 | 11 | IM | Avinash Ramesh | IND | 2221 | Tamil Nadu | 7 | 50,5 | 53,5 | 35,00 |
| 11 | 10 | FM | Ashwath R. | IND | 2227 | Tamil Nadu | 7 | 50 | 55 | 41,25 |
| 12 | 35 | Sunyuktha C M N | IND | 1770 | Tamil Nadu | 7 | 49,5 | 54,5 | 39,00 | |
| 13 | 17 | Rohit S | IND | 2081 | Tamil Nadu | 7 | 49,5 | 54 | 39,50 | |
| 14 | 9 | FM | Harsh Suresh | IND | 2256 | JAWAHAR VIDYALAYA, ASHOK NAGAR, CHE | 7 | 49,5 | 53,5 | 39,75 |
| 15 | 42 | Sham R | IND | 1684 | Tamil Nadu | 7 | 40,5 | 43,5 | 32,00 | |
| 16 | 25 | Hemanth Raam | IND | 1898 | Tamil Nadu | 6,5 | 52,5 | 57 | 37,25 | |
| 17 | 13 | Arjun C Krishnamachari | IND | 2142 | Tamil Nadu | 6,5 | 49,5 | 53,5 | 37,00 | |
| 18 | 2 | GM | Arjun Kalyan | IND | 2415 | Tamil Nadu | 6,5 | 49 | 53 | 36,75 |
| 19 | 47 | Pranav K P | IND | 1634 | Tamil Nadu | 6,5 | 49 | 53 | 34,75 | |
| 20 | 18 | AGM | Vignesh B | IND | 2002 | Tamil Nadu | 6,5 | 48 | 52,5 | 35,25 |
