Soundarya Kumar Pradhan clinches 15th AICFB National Chess Championship

by Shahid Ahmed - 10/04/2022

Soundarya Kumar Pradhan (ODI) ended six-time consecutive National champion Kishan Gangolli's (KAR) eight-year long reign. The 22-year-old from Odisha scored an unbeaten 7.5/9 to finish a half point ahead of the field and become National Blind Chess Champion. This is his maiden National title. Defending champion, Kishan scored 7.0/9, remained undefeated and secured second position. Swapanil Shah, Marimuthu K and Somender B L scored 6.5/9 each. They were placed third to fifth according to the tie-breaks. The top five finishers will represent India at the upcoming IBCA World Team Championship. Mrunali Pande was the best finisher among female participants. Photo: AICFB

Soundarya ends Kishan's eight-year long reign

"Thank you so much. I am very happy to win this event, especially because there are many tough players like Kishan, Darpan, Aryan, Marimuthu, Ashvin Makwana ji and Swapanil sir. I managed to become the champion. I think many of the players are actually better than me. One thing that I did differently is, for the past 2-3 years I was not really able to focus on chess a lot. Now that I am in fourth year, my college is almost over, I have secured placements. It was possible for me to give some time to chess. I think I added a little less pressure to deal with. Also, I think luck is a factor." Soundarya on winning the tournament.

Top 3 (L to R) - 2nd Kishan Gangolli, 1st Soundarya Kumar Pradhan and 3rd Swapanil Shah | Photo: AICFB

National Blind Chess Champion 2022 - Soundarya Kumar Pradhan (ODI) 7.5/9 | Photo: AICFB

From no electricity to Computer Science engineer + National Blind Champion 2022 - Soundarya Pradhan | Video: ChessBase India

Runner-up Kishan Gangolli (KAR) 7.0/9 | Photo: AICFB

Second Runner-up Swapanil Shah (MAH) 6.5/9 | Photo: AICFB

Top five finishers will represent India at the upcoming IBCA World Team Championship in North Macedonia| Photo: AICFB

Soundarya Kumar Pradhan scored an unbeaten 7.5/9 and gained 33.6 Elo rating points

Swapanil Shah - Soundarya Kumar Pradhan: 0.5-0.5 | Photo: IA Manjunatha M

Kishan Gangolli - Darpan Inani: 0.5-0.5 | Photo: IA Manjunatha M

Milind Samant - Marimuthu K: 0.5-0.5 | Photo: IA Manjunatha M

Aryan B Joshi - Subhendu Kumar Patra: 0.5-0.5 | Photo: IA Manjunatha M

Somender B L - Ashvin Makwana: 1-0 | Photo: IA Manjunatha M

Photo Gallery

Soundarya Kumar Pradhan with his winner's trophy | Photo: AICFB

Top five finishers and best woman - Mrunali Pande 5.0/9 | Photo: AICFB

India's fourth Grandmaster in history Abhijit Kunte | Photo: AICFB

Dr. Saurabh Gadgil, MD and CEO of PNG Jewellers | Photo: AICFB

The Arbiters - Dhanaji Kakade, Pravin Pantawane and IA Manjunatha M | Photo: AICFB

For more Round 9 and Prize distribution ceremony photos, please click at the respective links.

A total of 55 players took part from various states across India. The tournament was organized by All India Chess Federation for the Blind (AICFB) from 5th to 9th April 2022 at PYC Hindu Gymkhana, Pune. The nine-round Swiss league tournament had a time control of 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move no.1. There were double rounds every day from 5th to 8th April. Only last day 9th April 2022 had one round.

Round 9 results

Bo.	No.	Name	Rtg	Club/City	Pts.	Result	Pts.	Name	Rtg	Club/City	No.
1	11	Swapanil Shah	1622	MAH	6	½ - ½	7	Soundarya Kumar Pradhan	1749	ORI	5
2	2	Kishan Gangolli	2113	KAR	6½	½ - ½	5½	Darpan Inani	2124	GUJ	1
3	9	Samant Milind	1670	MAH	5½	½ - ½	6	Marimuthu K	1586	T N	12
4	3	Aryan B Joshi	1909	MAH	5½	½ - ½	5½	Patra Subhendu Kumar	1783	ORI	4
5	18	Somender B L	1446	DEL	5½	1 - 0	5½	Makwana Ashvin K	1729	GUJ	7
6	16	Venkat Reddy S	1481	A P	5	1 - 0	5	Shashidhar K M	1547	KAR	13
7	40	Shah Saiyam Kamleshbhai	1226	GUJ	5	0 - 1	5	Gopi R	1242	T N	35
8	10	Prachurya Kumar Pradhan	1630	ORI	4½	1 - 0	5	Noushad E P	1473	KER	17
9	31	Sam Peniel P	1302	T N	4½	0 - 1	4½	Patel Darshan	1680	GUJ	8
10	52	Sourabh Mishra	0	DEL	4½	0 - 1	4½	Shidad M	1432	KER	21

Details

Round 9 pairings

Rk.	SNo	Name	Typ	sex	Gr	FED	Rtg	Club/City	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB4	TB5
1	5	Soundarya Kumar Pradhan				IND	1749	ORI	7,5	49,5	54,5	44,50	0,0	6
2	2	Kishan Gangolli				IND	2113	KAR	7,0	47,5	51,5	38,25	0,0	5
3	11	Swapanil Shah				IND	1622	MAH	6,5	48,5	52,0	36,75	0,0	4
4	12	Marimuthu K	U21			IND	1586	T N	6,5	47,0	50,0	33,50	0,0	4
5	18	Somender B L	U21			IND	1446	DEL	6,5	43,0	47,0	32,00	0,0	6
6	9	Samant Milind				IND	1670	MAH	6,0	48,0	51,5	32,00	0,0	4
7	3	Aryan B Joshi	U21			IND	1909	MAH	6,0	47,5	51,5	32,50	0,0	4
8	35	Gopi R				IND	1242	T N	6,0	46,5	50,5	30,50	0,0	6
9	4	Patra Subhendu Kumar				IND	1783	ORI	6,0	46,0	50,0	30,50	0,0	4
10	1	Darpan Inani				IND	2124	GUJ	6,0	45,0	49,0	30,50	0,0	5

Details

Links

Tournament Info

AICFB official site

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