Sankalp Gupta sensational at 20th Bois Colombes Master 2023 with a 2712 performance
GM Sankalp Gupta scored an unbeaten 8/9 to win 20th Bois-Colombes Master Open A 2023. He finished a full point ahead of the field. IM Anatole Vlachos (GRE) scored sole 7/9 to secure second place. GM Sergey A Fedorchuk (UKR) edged past three other players on tie-breaks to finish third scoring 6.5/9. The total prize fund of the tournament combining three category was €7400, €4100 for Open A. The top three prizes were €1200, €800 and €500 along with a trophy each respectively. The total participation combining Open A, B and C was 460. This was Sankalp's sole tournament triumph in 2023. He certainly finished the year in a fantastic way. Photos: Florian Cordier – Cercle d’Échecs de Bois-Colombes
Sankalp ends 2023 on a high note
GM Sankalp Gupta was the sole leader 7/8 heading into the final round. He was a half point ahead of GM Sergey A Fedorchuk (UKR). A draw would have left his fate on Fedorchuk's hands. Thus, he decided to go for a win against IM Fabien Guilleux (FRA). Fedorchuk lost to IM Anatole Vlachos (GRE). Thus, Sankalp became a clear champion 8/9, Vlachos second 7/9 and Fedorchuk third 6.5/9. Winning a tournament with a 2712 performance to end 2023, Sankalp could not have asked for a better finish.
A total of 93 players including 5 GMs, 10 IMs, a WGM and a WIM took part from 12 countries across the world in the Open A (>1900) category. The five-day nine round Rating tournament was organized by Stéphane Pinçon at Albert Smirlian Sports Complex in Bois-Colombes, France from 26th to 30th December 2023. The time control of the event was 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment per move.
Final standings in Open A
| Pl | Nom | Elo | Cat. | Fede | Ligue | Club | Pts | Tr. | Perf | |
| 1 | g | SANKALP GUPTA | 2523 F | SenM |  | PAC | Marseille-Echecs | 8 | 41 | 2712 |
| 2 | m | VLACHOS Anatole | 2459 F | SenM |  | IDF | Tremblay Athletique Club - TAC Echecs | 7 | 40 | 2495 |
| 3 | g | FEDORCHUK Sergey A. | 2546 F | SenM |  | ARA | Lyon Olympique Echecs | 6½ | 45 | 2529 |
| 4 | BELKAID Sohan | 2280 F | CadM |  | IDF | Clichy-Echecs-92 | 6½ | 42 | 2504 | |
| 5 | m | BERGEZ Luc | 2291 F | SenM | | IDF | J.E.E.N. | 6½ | 40½ | 2449 |
| 6 | g | DAVID Alberto | 2529 F | SepM |  | EST | L'Echiquier Châlonnais | 6½ | 38½ | 2427 |
| 7 | m | MATERIA Marco | 2426 F | MinM | | EST | Bischwiller | 6 | 43 | 2451 |
| 8 | m | GUILLEUX Fabien | 2386 F | SenM | | EST | L'Echiquier Châlonnais | 6 | 41 | 2393 |
| 9 | f | MACON Arthur | 2337 F | SenM | | IDF | Clichy-Echecs-92 | 6 | 40½ | 2408 |
| 10 | m | RAZAFINDRATSIMA Timothe | 2441 F | CadM | | CVL | C'Chartres Echecs | 6 | 40½ | 2401 |
