Selvamurugan B victorious at 4th SSS Rating Open 2025

by Shahid Ahmed - 14/02/2025

Selvamurugan B scored an unbeaten 8/9 to win 4th SSS Rating Open 2025. He finished a half point ahead of the competition. Five players - J K Raju, Ram Alagappan S, Kishore V, Yashwant B and Saravanan scored 7.5/9 each. They secured second to sixth position respectively according to tie-breaks. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹401000. The top three prizes were ₹25000, ₹15000 and ₹12500 along with a trophy each respectively. The five-day nine round Rating Open tournament was organized by Sri Sai Saravanaa Academy at Chendhuran College of Engineering and Technology in Pudukottai, Tamil Nadu from 1st to 5th February 2025. This is the first tournament Selvamurugan played this year and he won it convincingly. Photo: IA Angappan A / Sri Sai Saravanaa Academy

Selvamurugan wins the first tournament he plays in 2025

Selvamurugan B was the sole leader 7.5/8, heading into the ninth round. Ram Alagappan S and Kishore V were trailing by a half point at 7/8 each. Selvamurugan drew with Kishore to become a clear champion. J K Raju defeated Jeshurun A Caris to secure second place. Hiren K G shared the point with Ram and the latter finished third.

Top 3 (L to R): 1st Selvamurugan B 8/9, 3rd Ram Alagappan S 7.5/9 and 2nd J K Raju 7.5/9 | Photo: IA Angappan A / Sri Sai Saravanaa Academy

Chief guest at the closing ceremony was MD of Karpaga Vinayaga Educational Institution - Mr. Annamalai Ragupathy, Mr. Ganesh Babu, Principal of Chendhuran College of Engineering and Technology, Chief Arbiter - IA Angappan A, FIDE - IPCA Councilor and CFPD Secretary - Mr. IA Anandh Babu VL, Trichy District Secretary - Mr. IA Dheenagaran B, Vice President of PDCA - Mr. Adaikkalavan A, and Deputy Chief Arbiter - Mr. FA Tamizharasan M presided over the Prize distribution function.

Selvamurugan B scored an unbeaten 8/9, scored a double hat-trick, finished a half point ahead of the rest and gained 26 Elo rating points

Inaugural first moves | Photo: IA Angappan A / Sri Sai Saravanaa Academy

The tournament was inaugurated by Mr. Ganesh Babu, Principal of Chendhuran College of Engineering and Technology, District Secretary of PDCA - Dr. Ganesan S, Chief Arbiter - IA Angappan A, FIDE - IPCA Councilor and CFPD Secretary - Mr. IA Anandh Babu VL, Trichy District Secretary - Mr. IA Dheenagaran B, Vice President of PDCA - Mr. Adaikkalavan A presided over the inauguration function.

Players in action | Photo: IA Anandh Babu VL and IA Angappan A / Sri Sai Saravanaa Academy

Various prize winners | Photo: IA Angappan A / Sri Sai Saravanaa Academy

Trophies for the prize winners | Photo: IA Angappan A / Sri Sai Saravanaa Academy

Chief Arbiter - IA Angappan A

Mr. IA Angappan A is the first IA in India from disabled category and also became the first disabled Chief Arbiter in an open rating tournament. We thank him very much for sharing the photographs and information pertaining to the tournament.

Arbiters team | Photo: IA Angappan A / Sri Sai Saravanaa Academy

The tournament hall at Chendhuran College of Engineering and Technology in Pudukottai, Tamil Nadu | Photo: IA Angappan A / Sri Sai Saravanaa Academy

A total of 290 players took part from various places all over the country and one from the USA. The five-day nine round Rating Open tournament was organized by Sri Sai Saravanaa Academy at Chendhuran College of Engineering and Technology in Pudukottai, Tamil Nadu from 1st to 5th February 2025. The time control of the event was 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move no.1.

Final standings

Rk.	SNo	Name	Typ	sex	Gr	Rtg	Club/City	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	2	Selvamurugan, B			9685MDU2024	1972	Thoothukudi	8	55,5	58	50,50
2	3	Raju, J.K.			0	1944	Andhra Pradesh	7,5	53,5	57	45,50
3	5	Ram, Alagappan S			1611CGL2024	1924	Chengalpattu	7,5	53	56,5	45,00
4	13	Kishore, V			12591CHE2024	1802	Chennai	7,5	51,5	52,5	41,00
5	7	Yashwant, B	U17		5556MDU2024	1901	Madurai	7,5	48,5	53	42,25
6	10	Saravanan,			2305CHE2024	1839	Chennai	7,5	45	48,5	39,75
7	1	Hiren, K G			2739CHE2024	1985	Chennai	7	50	53,5	40,50
8	8	Gokul, G	U14		9019VPM2024	1900	Villuppuram	7	48	53	40,25
9	51	Eman, P D	U14		6502PDU2024	1584	Pudukkottai	7	48	51,5	38,50
10	27	Dhinesh, Kannan			6486PDU2024	1708	Pudukkottai	7	48	50,5	39,25
11	11	Christy, George	U14		0	1814	Kerala	7	47,5	51	38,25
12	4	Kavin, E	U14		6584CHE2024	1937	Chennai	7	47	51,5	38,00
13	17	Chandra, Prakash Sankar			17236CHE2024	1740	Chennai	7	47	50	36,50
14	14	Muthukumar, Mukesh	U17		5963MAY2024	1753	Mayiladuthurai	7	44,5	47	35,00
15	16	Siva, Adithyan S	U17		27021TNV2024	1747	Tirunelveli	6,5	51	52	33,50
16	22	Pradiksha, P S	F17	w	2323CHE2024	1728	Chennai	6,5	50,5	55	37,25
17	18	Caris, Jeshurun A	U17		7315TUT2024	1737	Thoothukudi	6,5	50,5	53,5	35,00
18	21	Abhinav, M B	U14		0	1728	Kerala	6,5	49	53,5	35,00
19	25	Sriman, V	U17		18318TNJ2024	1711	Thanjavur	6,5	49	51	34,25
20	15	Parithi, Narayan S I	U14		23706CHE2024	1749	Chennai	6,5	48,5	53	35,75
21	31	Meiyappan, M	U14		3879CBE2024	1677	Coimbatore	6,5	48,5	52	34,75
22	12	Shree, Hari Palaniappa S	U14		6804SIV2024	1811	Sivagangai	6,5	48	51	35,25
23	19	Tharunika, G	F14	w	5480KGI2024	1734	Krishnagiri	6,5	48	50	31,75
24	29	Vel, Murugan B			9706TUT2024	1706	Thoothukudi	6,5	47,5	48,5	31,00
25	35	Akilan, M S	U17		19770CBE2024	1665	Coimbatore	6,5	47	50	33,75
26	86	Mohammed, Arshath A	U17		7392TUT2024	1503	Thoothukudi	6,5	47	50	32,75
27	24	Pavithra, R V	F14	w	9796TRY2024	1717	Tiruchirapalli	6,5	46,5	48,5	31,25
28	37	Sudarshan, Balaji	U14		21848CGL2024	1652	Chengalpattu	6,5	44,5	48	32,75
29	9	Kirpesh, I	U17		9147VNR2024	1892	Virudhunagar	6,5	44	47,5	32,75
30	96	Jawahar, K S	S55		4219CUD2024	1481	Cuddalore	6,5	41	47,5	31,25