Kumar Gaurav triumphs at South Point School Guwahati Rating Open 2023

by Shahid Ahmed - 07/01/2024

Kumar Gaurav scored an unbeaten 8/9 to win South Point School Guwahati Rating Open 2023. He finished a half point ahead of the competition. Four players - Arpan Das, Y Dhanabir Singh, Soram Rahul Singh and Oinam Ningthem scored 7.5/9 each. They were placed second to fifth respectively. Only Kumar and Dhanabir remained undefeated among top ten. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹500000. The top three prizes were ₹50000, ₹30000 and ₹25000 along with a trophy each. Kumar drew against both runner-up - Arpan and Dhanabir. This was Kumar's fourth overall, third individual tournament triumph in 2023. All photos are by Assam Chess Club unless stated otherwise.

Kumar's fourth triumph in 2023

Kumar Gaurav, Y Dhanabir Singh and Soram Rahul Singh were the three leaders 7/8 heading into the last round. Dhanabir drew against Soram and Kishan Kumar lost to Kumar Gaurav. Thus, Kumar Gaurav became a clear champion. Arpan Das secured second place by winning against Amlan Mahanta, Dhanabir third.

Champion - Kumar Gaurav 8/9

Runner-up - Arpan Das 7.5/9 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

Second Runner-up - Y Dhanabir Singh (left) 7.5/9

Kumar Gaurav scored an unbeaten 8/9, finished a half point ahead of the field and drew against both podium finishers

Lighting of the lamp

Keshab Mahanta making the inaugural first move

The tournament was inaugurated by Mr. Keshab Mahanta, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Medical Education and Research, Science and Technology, and Information Technology, Government of Assam, in presence of Mr. Siddhartha Bhattacharya, MLA, East Guwahati Constituency. Also present on the occasion were, Mr. Krishnanjan Chanda, Principal, South Point School, Mr. Anjan Deka, Vice President, Assam Chess Club and a host of players and guests.

Souvenir unveiling and release

Former Commonwealth champion and International Master Atanu Lahiri of West Bengal was the Chief Guest of the closing ceremony in the presence of Dr. S Lakshmanan, IAS, Secretary to the Govt. of Assam, Industries, Commerce and PE Dept. of Assam, Krishnanjan Chanda, Principal, South Point School, Mandira Chanda, Past District Governor of Lions Club International, Bidhan Das, Deputy Liaison Officer, DSW, Mridul Kumar Mahanta, IAS, President, Assam Chess Club and host of players, officials and guests.

Players in action

Thanks to the Chief Arbiter - IA Biswajit Bharadwaj of Assam Chess Club for sharing photos and info about the tournament.

A total of 261 players took part from various states across the country and one from Bangladesh in the Rating Open tournament. The five-day nine round Rating tournament was organized by Assam Chess Club at South Point School Guwahati in Guwahati, Assam from 21st to 25th December 2023. The time control of the event was 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment per move.

Final standings

Rk.	SNo	Name	Typ	sex	FED	Rtg	Club/City	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	4	Kumar, Gaurav			IND	1934		8	53,5	56,5	49,00
2	5	Arpan, Das			IND	1915		7,5	54,5	58,5	47,00
3	2	Singh, Y. Dhanabir			IND	1982	MANI	7,5	52	54	43,00
4	9	Singh, Soram Rahul			IND	1834	ASM	7,5	51,5	54,5	42,75
5	21	Ningthem, Oinam			IND	1708	MANI	7,5	50,5	55,5	45,00
6	17	Heikrujam, Jacky Singh			IND	1756	MANI	7	51,5	55,5	41,50
7	3	Rishabh, Nishad			IND	1936		7	51,5	55	40,50
8	19	Ashutosh, Kumar			IND	1724		7	50,5	53,5	39,00
9	13	Mohit, Kumar Soni			IND	1780		7	50	52,5	38,25
10	18	Iftikar, Alom Mazumdar			IND	1736	ASM	7	48	53	39,50
11	12	Tanmay, Rajbongshi	U13		IND	1819	ASM	7	48	51,5	37,75
12	14	Kishan, Kumar			IND	1777		6,5	53	54,5	36,25
13	8	Mrinmoy, Rajkhowa	U13		IND	1840	ASM	6,5	52,5	55,5	37,75
14	6	Dangmei, Bosco			IND	1883	MANI	6,5	48	52	35,25
15	15	Rajdip, Das			IND	1769	ASM	6,5	47,5	49	31,75
16	44	Karnav, P Deka	U19		IND	1421	ASM	6,5	46,5	50,5	32,75
17	20	Amlan, Mahanta			IND	1714	ASM	6,5	46,5	50	33,25
18	22	Shahinur, Haque			BAN	1693		6,5	46	49	34,00
19	11	Singh, Bhogen R K			IND	1823	MANI	6,5	46	48	33,00
20	29	Pulakesh, Sahu	U19		IND	1556	ASM	6,5	45,5	49,5	34,50
21	50	Ananga, Harsha Borthakur	U19		IND	1389	ASM	6,5	45	49	31,75
22	95	Aaradhya, Das	U09	w	IND	1202	TRI	6,5	45	47,5	31,00
23	23	Dhruv, Phukan	U19		IND	1676	ASM	6,5	44,5	48,5	33,50
24	54	Anurag, Pritam Medhi			IND	1379	ASM	6,5	43,5	47,5	32,00
25	34	Dhrubajyoti, Borpatra			IND	1471	ASM	6,5	42	45,5	31,75