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IM Shinya Kojima wins Japan Open 2021

by Mayur Gondhalekar - 28/01/2022

In a normal year at least three FIDE rated, classical time control tournaments are held in Japan, two simultaneously in May, and one in November. This year, with the coronavirus playing havoc, the events in May were cancelled, while the Gion Open in Kyoto went ahead as scheduled. Finally, come November, and relatively quieter situation with regard to the virus, we saw the successful completion of the FIDE rated Japan Open 2021. The National Chess Society of Japan (NCS Japan) successfully conducted the FIDE Rated OTB classical tournament - Japan Open – as planned, in November 2021. Photo: Mayur Gondhalekar

Kojima becomes unbeaten champion

Japan Open is one of the open FIDE rated tournaments, conducted by NCS Japan in November, which sees the participation of many players from all over the country. This year’s tournament had a maximum participation limit of 70, yet saw players coming in from all over Japan, across all ratings, from the then FIDE top ranking IM Kojima Shinya down to brand new unrated players. The tournament has great incentives to win or secure top spots: The top ranking male and female players qualify for the next Chess Olympiad. Top ten players, top two females, top junior (U-18), and top senior(O-50) qualify for the next Japan Chess Championship (FIDE rated, closed event)

Top 5 finishers of Japan Open 2021 L-R: 5th Otawa Yuto, 3rd FM Yamada Kohei, 1st IM Kojima Shinya, 2nd CM Tran Thanh Tu, 4th FM Aoshima Mirai | Photo: Mayur Gondhalekar

This year, the top players of Japan participated, featuring a stellar lineup of:

IM Kojima Shinya (2489)

CM Tran Thanh Tu (2374)

FM Aoshima Mirai (2342)

Asaka Samuel (2254)

CM Matsuo Tomohiko (2162)

FM Yamada Kohei (2131)

and the two WCMs, Kojima Natsumi and Sakai Azumi.

Top finishing female player: WCM Sakai Azumi | Photo: Mayur Gondhalekar

Eight federations were represented, while twenty new and FIDE unrated players participated in the event.

Top finishing senior: Gishi Takeshi | Photo: Mayur Gondhalekar

Three of the top seven U-1800 rated finishers: L-R 5th Heckel Marcus, 3rd Yamada Shinmei, 4th Ishizuka Mirai | Photo: Mayur Gondhalekar

The support staff – camera handler, assistant arbiters, and FA Yamada Akihiro | Photo: Mayur Gondhalekar

Japan Open 2021 | Photo: Mayur Gondhalekar

IM Kojima Shinya vs FM Kohei Yamada on Board 1 | Photo: Mayur Gondhalekar

Japan Open 2021 in action | Photo: Mayur Gondhalekar

A scoresheet from the event | Photo: Mayur Gondhalekar

Kato Ami vs Donaldson Sheldon (R4) | Photo: Mayur Gondhalekar

WCM Sakai Azumi vs Shreesh Babu TS (R4) | Photo: Mayur Gondhalekar

The other room | Photo: Mayur Gondhalekar

Thet OO (W) from Myanmar taking on Endrina Julius (B) from Philippines | Photo: Mayur Gondhalekar

Mr. De Silva W R L from Sri Lanka | Photo: Mayur Gondhalekar

Regardless of how your games go, after the round, you enjoy. L-R: Endrina Julius, Shreesh Babu T S, Takayasu Melody, Mayur | Photo: Mayur Gondhalekar

Replay all games

Final standings

Rk.SNoNamesexGrFEDRtgIRtgNPts. TB1  TB2  TB3  TB4 
11IMKojima ShinyaJPN238924996,030,533,027,5012623
22CMTran Thanh TuJPN237425556,029,032,527,0012726
36FMYamada KoheiJPN213122525,530,031,523,0012674
43FMAoshima MiraiJPN234224575,529,032,023,2512365
57Otawa YutoJPN212821615,526,529,021,7510718
614Shinoda TaroJPN200219155,526,529,020,5010772
710Shiomi RyoJPN203921325,028,031,520,2512033
89Higashino TetsuoJPN209522015,026,529,518,7512016
98Nakamura NaohiroJPN211122275,026,029,520,0011175
1068Otsuka ShouJPN005,025,027,517,5011684
1111Gishi TakeshiJPN203620515,023,525,519,5010918
1212Manabe HiroshiJPN200720155,023,025,516,7510069
134Asaka SamuelAUS225423374,528,532,018,0012196
1453Okabe YumaJPN014544,528,030,517,5011729
1517Scott TylerJPN193720874,528,030,017,2511101

Details

About the Author

Mayur is an IT engineer and a chess enthusiast from Mumbai, working in Japan since 2013. He has played over-the-board tournaments in India, USA and Japan. He has also been a top three finisher in a one-day OTB events in Japan in 2013, 2015, 2017 and online blitz in 2020. Currently he is making use of online platforms for chess improvement and learning Ayurveda. He loves salsa dancing, reading, traveling and teaching.


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