John Paul Wallace wins 6th Kragero Resort Open 2023, Leon third

by Shahid Ahmed - 08/03/2023

IM John Paul Wallace (AUS) headed into the final round of 6th Kragero Resort Open 2023 with a full point lead 7/8. Despite losing the final round game to GM Titas Stremavicius (LTU), John still managed to finish first on tie-breaks, Titas was placed second. Seven players - GM Leon Luke Mendonca, GM Kaido Kulaots (EST), GM Lucas van Foreest (NED), GM Visakh N R, GM Valery Kazakouski (LTU), IM Elham Abdulrauf (NOR) and FM Saad Abobaker Elmi (NOR) finished with 6.5/9. They were placed third to ninth respectively according to tie-breaks. The top three prizes were NOK 25000, 15000 and 10000 each respectively. Photo: SjakkTromsø

Seven players score 6.5/9

GM Leon Luke Mendonca had a great tournament. His sole loss was against the eventual champion, IM John Paul Wallace (AUS). Apart from Leon, GM Visakh N R was the only other Indian who participated in this event. He scored 6.5/9 and was placed sixth. Leon is currently playing at ChessOrg Festival Bad Woerishofen 2023 where he is in a four-way lead with GM Visakh N R, GM Iniyan P and the reigning Commonwealth Open 2022 champion, IM P Shyam Nikhil with a score of 4.5/6 each.

GM Leon Luke Mendonca drew with Estonia no.1 GM Kaido Kulaots in the fifth round | Photo: SjakkTromsø

Leon - Dagur, Round 7

Position after 27.Nd6

GM Leon Luke Mendonca (2541) did a simple yet effective knight maneuver from d4 to d6 via b3, a5 and c4. The game continued 27...Ba6 28.Rad1 axb4 29.axb4 Rb8 30.Ra1 Bc8 31.Ra4 h6 32.Rea1 and soon Black gave up his queen for a rook and knight. Leon went on to beat FM Dagur Ragnarsson (ISL, 2343) eventually.

GM Leon Luke Mendonca in deep thought | Photo: SjakkTromsø

Leon's only loss of the event was against the eventual champion IM John Paul Wallace in the sixth round

GM Visakh N R also scored 6.5/9, he was placed sixth according to tie-breaks | Photo: SjakkTromsø

The penultimate round encounter between Leon and Visakh ended in a draw | Photo: SjakkTromsø

Players in action at Kragero Resort, Tromso, Norway | Photo: SjakkTromsø

A total of 100 players including 11 GMs, 19 IMs, 5 WGMs and 2 WIMs participated from 23 countries across the world in this five-day nine-round Swiss league Rating tournament. The tournament was organized by IA Truls R Jørgensen - Kragero Chess Club from 22nd to 26th February 2023 at Kragero Resort, Kragero, Norway. The time control for the event was 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment.