All-India U-15 FIDE-Rated Open Chess Tourney: Chennai's Pranav clinches title

Pranav (TN), the top-seed, a 7th standard student from Velammal Vidyalaya, Chennai, with a rating of 2311, playing with white pieces scored a well-earned win over State-mate Thiyagarajan Tamilselvi (7 points), and clinched the coveted title on the concluding day with 8.5 points from nine rounds in the All-India U-15 (boys & girls) FIDE Rated Open Chess Tournament-2018, conducted by Mysore Chess Club at the University Gymnasium Hall which concluded here yesterday. AIM Kaushik G. Iyer of Karnataka (8 points) secured second place, while four players — Keshav Kothari (Karnataka), V. Meenatchi Rajam, S. Raghul Saro (both from TN) and Arhan Chethan Anand (Kar) — tied with 7.5 points each and secured the places from third to sixth on the basis of their progressive scores. Cash prizes were given away to the winners in the Open category (up to 30th place), rating below 2000, rating below 1800, rating below 1600, rating below 1400 and rating below 1200 (top five places). Category prizes were given in the U-13, U-11,U-9, U-7 (boys & girls) sections. The prizes were given away to the winners by GM M.S. Thejkumar. Mysuru Zilla Panchayat CEO Jyothi, Natraraj of Nehru Yuvaka Kendra, H.G. Srivara, Gopalaswamy Shishuvihara Institutions Correspondent N.R. Manjunatha and Mysore Chess Club Hon. Secretary K.G. Jayaprakash were the other guests present. Final Placings — Open: 1. V. Pranav (8.5), 2. AIM Kaushik G. Iyer (8), 3. Keshav Kothari (7.5-44), 4. V. Meenatchi Rajam (7.5-42.25), 5. S. Raghul Saro (7.5-42), 6. Arhan Chethan Anand (7.5-41.75), 7. Jinan Jomon (7-43), 8. Thiyagarajan Tamilselvi (7-41.25), 9. D. Kalki Eshwar (7-41) and 10. Tejas Suresh Kumar (7-36.75). Below 1800 Rating: 1. Thiyagarajan Tamilselvi (TN), 2. Shree Krishna Pranama (Kar). Below 1600 Rating: 1. D. Kalki Eshwar, 2. Tejas Suresh Kumar, 3. Abhinav Bhatt, 4. Adireddy Tarun and 5. Arpith S. Bijoy. Below 1400: 1. Anya Seth Syed, 2. Nirupam Gagoi, 3. D.N. Vishwadeep, 4. Raaghav Rajesh and 5. N.B. Tusshar. Below 1200: 1. Manasa, 2. Pratham Singh, 3. Shaun Deon Sequeira, 4. M.Shiva Prasad and 5. V. Avinash.