Vidit Gujrathi wins 34th PSPB Inter Unit Rapid Individual 2025

by Shahid Ahmed - 16/02/2025

GM Vidit Gujrathi (ONGC) scored 7/9 to win 34th PSPB Inter Unit Rapid Individual Chess Tournament 2025. GM Pranav Venkatesh (IOC-A) also scored the same 7/9. However, Vidit won the tournament on tie-breaks. Both Vidit and Pranav suffered a loss each. Vidit lost against the legend, GM Sasikiran Krishnan (ONGC) in Round 7. Pranav lost against the eventual champion, Vidit in the fifth round. Four players - GM Raunak Sadhwani (IOC-A), GM Surya Sekhar Ganguly (IOC-A), GM G N Gopal (BPCL) and GM Sethuraman S P (ONGC) scored 6.5/9 each. They were placed third to sixth respectively according to tie-breaks. This is the second consecutive edition Vidit as he won the 33rd edition in 2023.

Vidit wins for the second consecutive edition

GM Sethuraman S P (ONGC) was the sole leader 6.5/8, heading into the final round. Six players - GM Raunak Sadhwani (IOC-A), GM Sasikiran Krishnan (ONGC), GM Vidit Gujrathi (ONGC), GM Pranav Venkatesh (IOC-A), GM G N Gopal (BPCL) and GM Surya Sekhar Ganguly (IOC-A) were trailing by a half point at 6/8 each. Vidit defeated Sethuraman to become the champion. Pranav won against Sasikiran to secure second place. Raunak drew with GM Abhijeet Gupta (BPCL) to finish third. The top ten places were claimed by GMs only. The next three places were secured by three women - WGM Mary Ann Gomes (IOC-B), IM Nisha Mohota (OIL-A) and IM Eesha Karavade (IOC-B).

Champion - GM Vidit Gujrathi (ONGC) 7/9

Runner-up - GM Pranav Venkatesh (IOC-A) 7/9 | Photo: Indian Oil Corporation Limited

Second Runner-up - GM Raunak Sadhwani (IOC-A) 6.5/9 | Photo: Indian Oil Corporation Limited

Vidit Gujrathi scored 7/9, suffered only one loss against Sasikiran Krishnan and won the tournament on tie-breaks

Vidit tweeted on his triumph

Inauguration ceremony | Photo: Indian Oil Corporation Limited

IOC players playing Simultaneous exhibition games | Photo: Indian Oil Corporation Limited

A total of 62 players including 13 GMs, 4 IMs and a WGM represented various units of PSPB. The two-day nine round individual tournament was organized by Indian Oil Corporation Limited at IOCL Township in Vadodara, Gujarat on 12th and 13th February 2025. The time control of the event was 25 minutes + 10 seconds increment from move no.1.

Final standings

Rk.	SNo		Name	Rtg	Club/City	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB5
1	1	GM	Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi	2650	ONGC	7	50	55,5	43,25	6
2	6	GM	Pranav, V	2537	IOC-A	7	47	51,5	38,00	6
3	2	GM	Sadhwani, Raunak	2603	IOC-A	6,5	50	53,5	38,00	4
4	3	GM	Ganguly, Surya Shekhar	2585	IOC-A	6,5	49	54	38,25	4
5	11	GM	Gopal, G.N.	2471	BPCL	6,5	48	53	36,75	5
6	9	GM	Sethuraman, S.P.	2519	ONGC	6,5	47	51	34,50	6
7	4	GM	Sasikiran, Krishnan	2548	ONGC	6	50,5	54,5	34,75	4
8	5	GM	Gupta, Abhijeet	2543	BPCL	6	46	50	31,75	3
9	10	GM	Adhiban, B.	2503	IOC-A	6	45,5	48,5	29,75	5
10	8	GM	Karthikeyan, Murali	2522	IOC-A	6	45	47	28,00	4