230 chess players gather in Thane to rule 64 squares
B B Nayak
TNN | Jan 6, 2014, 06.14 AM IST
THANE: After almost a decade, the city played host to an all India chess tournament of shorter and faster version (five minutes format) on the lines of T-20 cricket.
Over 230 rated players from across the country took part in the open competition for mandatory 11 rounds, irrespective of wins and defeats. The tournament titled 1st All India Open Dr Mohan Mawalge Memorial Blitz FIDE Rating Chess Championship was held at NKT College on Sunday.
Thane payers had a good run at the event and swept away the top three spots. This rapid version of Blitz chess is played on a five minute format.
Rakesh Kulkarni got the better of his contenders Nubairshah Shaikh and Amardeep Bartakke to register a fantastic win. This was jointly organised by Sarvajanik Bandhkam Ganeshotsav Mandal, Thane Sarvajanik Bandhkam Thekedar Sanghatana and Sarda Construction under the aegis of World Chess Federation (FIDE), All India Chess Federation.
Kulkarni (21) scored 10 points from 11 rounds to clinch the trophy. While emerging superstar Shaikh (16) could manage 9.5 points from 11 rounds to get into the second place. The teenager was the top seed in the tournament with 2,336 international rating against Kulkarni’s 2, 262.
Shaikh also won in the under-16 group. Interestingly, Shaikh’s coach and international master Sharad Tilak (52) having FIDE rating 2, 289 found himself at the 10th spot in the medal tally.
“I was quite confident to win the crown since Blitz chess has been my forte. Last month, I was defeated by Shaikh at the rapid chess tournament in Mulund, and with the win I felt quite content,” said Kulkarni. Most experienced Bartakke (40) was pushed into the third place amid fierce competition. Woman International Master (WIM) Bhagyashree Thipse finished 16th in the tournament.
Twelve-year-old Anand Nadar of Navi Mumbai who managed 5th place in open group won in the under-13 class. “This was for the first time we shifted our focus from hosting table tennis tourney to chess to popularize this beautiful indoor game in the region. And the success is seeing with the turnout including 18 internationally rated played having above 2, 000 FIDE ratings,” said Madhav Sankpale, chief organizer.
Thane collector P Velrasu gave away the prizes and encouraged the participants.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Impressive.