Karthik Rajaa wins 1st Nallu Memorial Rapid Rating Open 2024

by Shahid Ahmed - 06/03/2024

FM Karthik Rajaa and Vignesh B scored 8/9 each at 1st Nallu Memorial Rapid Rating Open 2024. Karthik won the tournament due to better tie-breaks, Vignesh was placed second. Six players - GM Laxman R R, GM Akash G, IM Harshavardhan G B, Vengatesh Krishnan C, Dinesh Kumar Jaganathan and IM Avinash Ramesh scored 7.5/9 each. They were placed third to eighth respectively according to tie-breaks. Karthik suffered his sole loss against the eventual second runner-up, Laxman. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹200000. The top three prizes were ₹33000 + trophy, ₹20000 and ₹10000 each respectively. The one-day rapid rating tournament was organized by Gold Medal Chess Foundation on 11th February 2024 at VOC Vidiyalayaa in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. This was Karthik's second rating tournament triumph in 2024. Photos: Gold Medal Chess Foundation

Karthik's second rating tournament triumph of the year

GM Laxman R R was the sole leader 7.5/8, heading into the final round. FM Karthik Rajaa, Aakash G, Vignesh B and Kunal M were in pursuit at 7/8 each. Vignesh, Karthik and GM Akash G defeated Laxman, Kunal and teenager Aakash. Karthik became champion, Vignesh second and Laxman third.

Champion - FM Karthik Rajaa 8/9 | Photo: Gold Medal Chess Foundation

Runner-up - Vignesh B 8/9 | Photo: Aditya Sur Roy

Second Runner-up - GM Laxman R R 7.5/9 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

FM Karthik Rajaa scored 8/9 and gained 7.8 Elo rating points

The second and third edition of Nallu Memorial Rapid Rating Open have been announced to take place on 29th September and 13th October 2024 respectively.

A total of 332 players including 2 GMs and 7 IMs took part from various states across the country and one USA. The one-day nine round Rapid Rating tournament was organized by Gold Medal Chess Foundation at VOC Vidiyalayaa in Chennai, Tamil Nadu on 11th February 2024. The time control of the event was 10 minutes + 10 seconds increment.

Final standings

Rk.	SNo		Name	Typ	sex	FED	Rtg	Club/City	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB5
1	9	FM	Karthik, Rajaa			IND	2191	TN	8	51,5	55,5	48,00	8
2	12	AGM	Vignesh, B			IND	2085	TN	8	50	53	47,00	7
3	8	GM	Laxman, R.R.			IND	2197	ICF	7,5	56	60	49,00	7
4	1	GM	Akash, G			IND	2364	TN	7,5	52,5	57	46,00	7
5	2	IM	Harshavardhan, G B			IND	2316	TN	7,5	49,5	53,5	41,75	7
6	27		Vengatesh, Krishnan C			IND	1744	TN	7,5	48,5	52,5	42,00	7
7	22		Dinesh, Kumar Jaganathan			IND	1854	TN	7,5	46,5	51,5	43,00	7
8	10	IM	Avinash, Ramesh			IND	2172	TN	7,5	46	50	41,50	7
9	17	FM	Syed Anwar, Shazuli			IND	2000	TN	7	54	59,5	44,75	6
10	13		Aakash, G	U14		IND	2062	TN	7	52,5	57,5	42,50	7
11	7	IM	Ajay, Karthikeyan			IND	2211	TN	7	50,5	54	40,75	5
12	14	FM	Kunal, M.			IND	2054	TN	7	50	54	37,50	6
13	24	IM	Ramnathan, Balasubramaniam			IND	1823	TN	7	50	54	35,50	7
14	18		Dinesh, Rajan M			IND	1997	TN	7	49,5	54	39,25	6
15	26		Vijay, Shreeram P			IND	1798	TN	7	48,5	53	40,50	7
16	4	IM	Hari, Madhavan N B			IND	2272	TN	7	48	52,5	40,75	6
17	21		Sailesh, R			IND	1876	TN	7	47,5	52	39,25	6
18	37		Rahul, Bharadwaj B			IND	1612	TN	7	47,5	51,5	37,00	7
19	20		Thounaojam, Gobin Luwang			IND	1903	MN	7	46	51	39,50	6
20	28		Umashankar, A			IND	1723	PY	7	45,5	49,5	38,50	7
21	11	IM	Manish, Anto Cristiano F			IND	2152	TN	7	45,5	49,5	33,25	6
22	3	IM	Srihari, L R			IND	2287	TN	6,5	50,5	55	37,50	5
23	15		Balasubramaniam, H			IND	2027	TN	6,5	50,5	54,5	36,25	6
24	29	WFM	Meghna, C H		w	IND	1719	KL	6,5	49,5	54	37,25	6
25	30		Mahish, S A	U14		IND	1715	TN	6,5	48,5	52	34,25	6