Kumar Gaurav wins 6th SSC Rating Open 2024, Tejaswini Sagar second

by Shahid Ahmed - 26/05/2024

Kumar Gaurav, WIM Tejaswini Sagar and CM Amarasinghe A A C B scored 8/9 each at 6th SSC Rating Open 2024. Kumar became champion due to better tie-breaks, Tejaswini second and Amarasinghe third overall. Both Kumar and Tejaswini remained undefeated. They drew their penultimate round battle against each other. In the Blitz Rating Open, Nikhil M scored an unbeaten 7.5/8 to become the champion. Pesandu Rashmitha Liyanage and Sivathanujan S scored 7/8 each to be placed second and third respectively. The total prize fund in combining all events were LKR 1.6 Million. The top three prizes in Classical were LKR 120000, 80000 and 50000 along with a trophy and medal each, for Blitz it was LKR 15000, 10000 and 7000. The tournaments were organized by FA NI Dulanga Dilhan/SSC International Chess Academy at Grand Rockland Hotel in Matara, Sri Lanka from 4th and 8th May 2024. This is Kumar's second rating tournament triumph of the year. Photo: Southern Zone Photography

Nikhil M dominates the Blitz Rating Open

Seven players - Sivathanujan S, WIM Tejaswini Sagar, Kumar Gaurav, CM Amarasinghe A A C B, Senarathne A A H M B, Bandara Dhanushka and CM Hansana G Haritha were leading 7/8 each. Kumar did not have the best tie-breaks going into the final round. So he had no choice but to win to become the champion. Kumar, Tejaswini and Amarasinghe defeated Bandara, Hansana and Sivathanujan to secure first, second and third place overall respectively. In the Blitz Rating event, Nikhil M made a fantastic start by scoring seven wins in-a-row. Pesandu Rashmitha Liyanage and Achinthya Shamen Kaluarachchi were in pursuit at 6.5/7 each. Nikhil won against Pesandu and Achinthya lost to Kumar. Thus, Nikhil became a clear champion.

Champion in Classical - Kumar Gaurav 8/9 | Photo: Southern Zone Photography

Runner-up - WIM Tejaswini Sagar 8/9 | Photo: Southern Zone Photography

The overall top two finishers - 2nd WIM Tejaswini Sagar and 1st Kumar Gaurav 8/9 flanked by Luxman Wijesuriya (left), President, Chess Federation of Sri Lanka and FA NI Dulanga Dilhan (right), Tournament Director | Photo: Southern Zone Photography

The tournament banner | Photo: Southern Zone Photography

Kumar Gaurav during one of his games | Photo: Chess Info SL

Kumar Gaurav scored an unbeaten 8/9, drew with the eventual runner-up, WIM Tejaswini Sagar and gained 2.8 Elo rating points

Kumar Gaurav lighting up the lamp | Photo: Southern Zone Photography

Inauguration ceremony | Photo: Southern Zone Photography

Blitz

Blitz Rating Open Champion - Nikhil M 7.5/8 | Photo: Southern Zone Photography

4th Kumar Gaurav 7/8 | Photo: Southern Zone Photography

7th and Best Woman - WIM Chandreyee Hajra 6.5/8 | Photo: Southern Zone Photography

10th Siya Sagar 6.5/8 | Photo: Southern Zone Photography

Nikhl M in action | Photo: Chess Info SL

Nikhil M scored an unbeaten 7.5/8, finished a half point ahead of the field and gained 34.8 Elo rating points

The entire Sagar family (L to R): Anjali Sagar, WIM Tejaswini Sagar and Siya Sagar | Photo: Southern Zone Photography

Trophies and medals for the prize winners | Photo: Southern Zone Photography

Team SSC International Chess Academy | Photo: Southern Zone Photography

Players in action | Photo: Chess Info SL

The tournament hall at Grand Rockland Hotel in Matara, Sri Lanka | Photo: Chess Info SL

A total of 388 players including 2 WIMs took part from all over Sri Lanka and six from India in this five-day nine round Rating Open tournament. It was organized by FA NI Dulanga Dilhan/SSC International Chess Academy at Grand Rockland Hotel in Matara, Sri Lanka from 4th and 8th May 2024. The time control of the event was 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment per move.

Final standings in Classical

Rk.	SNo		Name	Typ	sex	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB2	TB3	TB4	TB5
1	1		Kumar, Gaurav			IND	2107	8	45,5	55,5	7	40,5
2	2	WIM	Tejaswini, Sagar		w	IND	2019	8	44,5	57	7	42
3	9	CM	Amarasinghe, A A C B			SRI	1847	8	42,5	54	8	40
4	6	FM	Alahakoon, Isuru			SRI	1919	7,5	43,5	54,5	7	39,5
5	4		Liyanage, Pesandu Rashmitha			SRI	1938	7,5	43	54,5	7	41
6	20		Abiru, K A Aken			SRI	1704	7,5	42	53	6	38,5
7	14		Newansa, M Esandi	F15	w	SRI	1763	7,5	41,5	54	7	38,5
8	7		Sivathanujan, S			SRI	1881	7	47,5	58,5	6	41
9	28		Fernando, W K B Thumula Theekshana	U15		SRI	1651	7	43	55,5	7	38
10	8		Bandara, Dhanushka			SRI	1877	7	43	54,5	6	38
11	11		De Silva, Osheen			SRI	1782	7	43	54,5	6	36,5
12	24		Alwis, H Sandithi Kusalya	F15	w	SRI	1661	7	42,5	54	6	38,5
13	3		Nikhil, M			IND	1979	7	42,5	52,5	7	36
14	13	CM	Hansana, G Haritha	U15		SRI	1766	7	41,5	53	6	38
15	17		Senarathne, A A H M B			SRI	1728	7	41	52	7	35
16	27		Nanayakkara, Sanuk	U13		SRI	1652	7	40,5	52,5	7	36
17	5	WIM	Chandreyee, Hajra		w	IND	1934	7	40	50	6	35
18	29		Sandaruwan, K E Dineth			SRI	1648	7	39	50	6	35,5
19	21		Palliyage, Sethumlee Devhara	F13	w	SRI	1699	7	39	48,5	7	37
20	25		Deshappriya, D Kalindu			SRI	1654	7	37,5	47,5	7	36

Details

A total of 268 players including 2 WIMs took part from all over the country and six from India in this one-day eight round Blitz Rating Open tournament. It was organized by FA NI Dulanga Dilhan/SSC International Chess Academy at Grand Rockland Hotel in Matara, Sri Lanka on 5th May 2024. The time control of the event was 3 minutes + 2 seconds. increment per move.

Final standings in Blitz

Rk.	SNo		Name	Typ	sex	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB2	TB3	TB4	TB5
1	4		Nikhil, M			IND	1895	7,5	32	42	7	35,5
2	5		Liyanage, Pesandu Rashmitha			SRI	1894	7	34	44,5	6	34
3	7		Sivathanujan, S			SRI	1867	7	33	43,5	7	34
4	1		Kumar, Gaurav			IND	1956	7	32	43,5	7	31
5	11		Senarathne, A A H M B			SRI	1793	7	31	41,5	7	33
6	15	CM	Hansana, G Haritha	U15		SRI	1747	7	31	41	7	32
7	9	WIM	Chandreyee, Hajra		w	IND	1818	6,5	37	48	6	32,5
8	8		Kaluarachchi, Achinthya Shamen			SRI	1831	6,5	35,5	47	6	33,5
9	2	FM	Alahakoon, Isuru			SRI	1923	6,5	31	40,5	6	30,5
10	36		Sagar, Siya		w	IND	1631	6,5	29,5	39,5	5	29
11	20		Abiru, K A Aken			SRI	1716	6,5	29,5	38	6	31
12	16		Nanayakkara, Sanuk	U13		SRI	1746	6,5	29	38	5	31
13	21		Alahakoon, T N			SRI	1704	6	34	45,5	6	30
14	10	CM	Amarasinghe, A A C B			SRI	1794	6	32,5	43	5	30
15	23		Sandaruwan, K E Dineth			SRI	1702	6	32	43	6	29