P Shyam Nikhil wins 18th Tamil Nadu IM-norm Closed Circuit 2024, Aakash G third
IM P Shyam Nikhil, IM Anton Sitnikov (UKR) and Aakash G scored 6/9 each at 16th Tamil Nadu IM-norm Closed Circuit Chess Tournament 2024. Shyam won the tournament as he had beaten Anton in the very first round and drew against Aakash in the fifth. Anton and Aakash were placed second and third according to tie-breaks. Only Shyam remained undefeated. The six-day ten-player round-robin tournament was organized by Tamil Nadu Chess Association at Dr. Mahalingam College of Engineering and Technology in Pollachi, Tamil Nadu from 13th to 18th February 2024. Tournament Coordinator - IA R Srivatsan writes the tournament report. Photos: IA R Srivatsan
Top three score 6/9
IM P Shyam Nikhil edges out IM Anton Sitnikov (UKR) and G Aakash in a three-way tie on 6 points to finish on top. Shyam beat IMs - Anton, Olivier Touzane (FRA), FM Suyog Wagh and drew the rest to win the event. Shyam started the event with a win over the eventual second placed Anton in a positional battle.
Shyam won a strategic battle against FM Suyog Wagh’s Sicilian, especially white’s play from 27th move was instructive.
In the final round, Shyam had to win against IM Olivier Touzane (FRA), as Anton had won against Aakash and tied with the latter on top with 6 points. Shyam beat Olivier from an equal rook and pawn endgame. The result of direct encounter was the first tie-break and it favoured Shyam due to his first round win over Anton and a later draw with Aakash.
Olivier - Shyam, Round 9
Here, the engine evaluates the position to be equal. However, Shyam pushes his luck a bit and wins a crucial point and the title.
The tournament was inaugurated by Dr. M Manickam, Chairman, Sakthi Group of Companies and President, Tamil Nadu State Chess Association.
Padma Bhushan Arutchelvar Dr. N Mahalingam, Founder, Sakthi group of companies was a chess philanthropist beyond comparison. His compassion for chess players in distress was phenomenal. He expressed his appreciation of the achievements of chess players with meaningful gifts that inspired them to higher efforts. As a former President of Tamil Nadu State Chess Association and All India Chess Federation, Dr. N Mahalingam, championed the growth and the development of the game.
The people of our country especially chess players and Tamil Nadu citizens, when we say Pollachi, the name that comes to everyone's mind is Arutchelvar Dr. Mahalingam. Now his son, Dr. M Manickam is following the foot prints of his father by heading Tamil Nadu State Chess Association. The Closed Circuit IM-norm Chess Tournament is the brainchild of our President, Dr. M Manickam.
IM Anton Sitnikov (UKR) receiving his second prize from Dr. C Ramasamy, Secretary, Dr. MCET, flanked by IA Suresh Chandra Sahoo, Chief Arbiter, IA R Anantharam, Vice President, TNSCA and IA R Srivatsan, Tournament Coordinator.
Anton has been a consistent performer so far. In five IM-norm tournaments he participated, he has won Tirunelveli, Nagercoil and second places in Karaikudi and Pollachi.
G Aakash was impressive in his first appearance in this round robin format. He was very close to winning the tournament and an IM-norm. The last round debacle against Anton stopped his leap. Aakash is gaining 118.8 Elo rating points from this event. Other debutant, Ajay Santhosh Parvathareddy gained 39.75 Elo here. Ajay beat IMs Anton Sitnikov and Olivier Touzane en route his fourth place on 5 points.
David - Aakash, Round 6
Here the IM ventures into a positional sacrifice 12...fxe6 13.Nfg5 Qb6 14.Qg4 Nc7 15.Be3 0-0-0 16.0-0 Rdf8 17.Rad1 Bd5 18.b4 h6 he continued with another interesting exchange sacrifice on the 19th move.
The exchange sacrifice 19.Rxd5 did not work out well for White. 19...Nxd5 20.Bxc5 Qc6 and Black went on to win the game.
Aakash - Sevan, Round 1
34.R7g3! Qh6 35.Qxb6! Rcc8 36.Qa7 Rg8 37.Qc7 a4 38.Rxg8+ Rxg8 39.Rxg8+ Kxg8 after the exchange of rooks, Aakash played the queen endgame meticulously and scored a full point.
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Dr. Mahalingam College of Engineering and Technology (MCET) is a self-financing educational institution situated in Pollachi, Coimbatore District. MCET is the vision of Arutchelvar Dr. N Mahalingam, former President of All India Chess Federation. MCET was established in 1998 to commemorate the 75th birthday of this great visionary Padma Bhushan Arutchelvar Dr. N Mahalingam.
Mirakle Integrated Health Centre is started functioning from 2018 in the MCET Campus. It is known to provide top service in Oncology and Cardiology. They have introduced ONCOTHERMIA which is the first of its kind in India for cancer patients. Also, they have introduced External Counter Pulsation (ECP) treatment, which is an alternate to bypass surgery for cardiac patients.
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Final standings
| Rk. | SNo | Name | FED | Rtg | Pts. | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 | TB4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | IM | Shyaamnikhil, P | IND | 2412 | 6 | 1,5 | 26,25 | 3 | 1 |
| 2 | 10 | IM | Sitnikov, Anton | UKR | 2362 | 6 | 1 | 23,75 | 5 | 2 |
| 3 | 5 | Aakash, G | IND | 2117 | 6 | 0,5 | 24,50 | 5 | 3 | |
| 4 | 4 | Ajay, Santhosh Parvathareddy | IND | 2148 | 5 | 0,5 | 21,00 | 3 | 0 | |
| 5 | 2 | IM | Gochelashvili, David | RUS | 2225 | 5 | 0,5 | 19,75 | 3 | 1 |
| 6 | 6 | IM | Buscara, Sevan | FRA | 2256 | 4 | 1 | 15,00 | 2 | 1 |
| 7 | 8 | FM | Wagh, Suyog | IND | 2243 | 4 | 0 | 16,00 | 3 | 1 |
| 8 | 9 | IM | Touzane, Olivier | FRA | 2084 | 3,5 | 1 | 17,00 | 2 | 0 |
| 9 | 3 | IM | Sai Agni Jeevitesh, J | IND | 2309 | 3,5 | 0 | 15,00 | 2 | 0 |
| 10 | 7 | WIM | Bommini, Mounika Akshaya | IND | 2167 | 2 | 0 | 8,25 | 1 | 1 |
About the Author
R Srivatsan is a Category A level International Arbiter, Member of Arbiter Commission in both All India Chess Federation and Tamil Nadu State Chess Association. He was also the Tournament Coordinator for the 18th Tamil Nadu IM-norm Closed Circuit Chess Tournament 2024.
The report was edited by Shahid Ahmed
