Srijit Paul dominates 1st Guwahati Smart City Rating Open 2024

by Shahid Ahmed - 20/07/2024

IM Srijit Paul scored an unbeaten 9/10 to win 1st Guwahati Smart City Rating Open 2024. He finished a half point ahead of the field. Shrayan Majumder and Arpan Das scored 8.5/10 each. They secured second and third place respectively according to tie-breaks. All podium finishers faced each other. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹500000. The top three prizes were ₹70000, ₹50000 and ₹30000 along with a trophy each. The tournament was organized by All Assam Chess Association at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium Sarusajai in Guwahati, Assam from 2nd to 7th July 2024. This was Srijit's first tournament triumph of the year. Photo: Northeast Chess India

Top seed finishes first

IM Srijit Paul and Arpan Das were the coleaders heading into the final round 8/9 each. Shrayan Majumder, Kishan Kumar and Dhrupad Kashyap were trailing them by a half point at 7.5/9 each. Srijit defeated Dhrupad to become a clear champion. Shrayan won against Kumar Gaurav to finish second. Kishan drew with Arpan. Thus, Arpan claimed third place. Before this event, Arpan won 1st AFCA Rating Open 2024. Srijit finished in the same.

Top 3 (L to R): 1st IM Srijit Paul 9/10, 2nd Shrayan Majumder 8.5/10 and 3rd Arpan Das 8.5/10 | Photo: Northeast Chess India

The top three finishers with guests including AICF President - Nitin Narang | Photo: Northeast Chess India

IM Srijit Paul (2372) scored two 19-move miniature wins. However, his best win of the event was against Kushal O (2137). He just played sublime chess to outplay the teenager.

IM Srijit Paul during one of his games | Photo: Northeast Chess India

IM Srijit Paul scored an unbeaten 9/10, finished a half point ahead of the field, drew with the runner-up Shrayan Majumder and defeated the second runner-up Arpan Das

Top boards | Photo: Northeast Chess India

Inaugural first move | Photo: Rajib Dhar

Lighting of the lamp | Photo: Rajib Dhar

The tournament was formally inaugurated by Mrs. Nandita Garlosa, Minister of Sports. Mr. K J Hilaly, Sports Secretary, Assam, Prodip Timung, Director, of Sports, Assam, Mr. Mukuta Deka, Vice Chairman, GMDA, Mr. Kandarpa Kalita, President, All Assam Chess Association, Rajib Dhar, General Secretary, All Assam Chess Association and Grandmaster Tejas Bakre were also present in the opening ceremony.

Players in action | Photo: Northeast Chess India

Trophies for the prize winners | Photo: Northeast Chess India

The tournament hall at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium Sarusajai in Guwahati, Assam | Photo: Northeast Chess India

Thanks to Rajib Dhar, General Secretary, All Assam Chess Association for sharing photographs and information about the tournament.

A total of 270 players including an IM took part from various places across the country, two from Bangladesh and USA each in this six-day ten-round Swiss League Rating Open tournament. It was organized by All Assam Chess Association at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium Sarusajai in Guwahati, Assam from 2nd to 7th July 2024. The time control of the tournament was 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment.

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Final standings

Rk.	SNo		Name	Typ	sex	FED	RtgI	Club/City	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB4	TB5	K	rtg+/-
1	1	IM	Srijit Paul			IND	2372	WB	9	66,5	72	63,75	0	8	10	-1,2
2	4		Majumder Shrayan			IND	2059	MH	8,5	66	71,5	58,50	0	8	20	38
3	6		Arpan Das			IND	2050	WB	8,5	64,5	69,5	56,50	0	8	20	36,8
4	12		Kishan Kumar			IND	1917	BR	8	63	67,5	52,75	0	6	20	28,8
5	19		Ashutosh Kumar			IND	1851	BR	8	59	62,5	47,75	0	7	20	37,8
6	2		Kushal O			IND	2137	AP	7,5	64	69	49,25	0	6	20	-8
7	18		Madkar Atharva			IND	1854	MH	7,5	62	68	47,75	0	7	20	24,6
8	7		Mrinmoy Rajkhowa	U14		IND	1984	AS	7,5	61,5	67,5	50,00	0	6	40	2
9	3		Dhrupad Kashyap			IND	2095	AS	7,5	61	66	46,50	0	7	20	-14,4
10	17		Abhash Roimya Saikia	U16		IND	1860	AS	7,5	60,5	65	46,00	0	7	40	56
11	24		Rintu Brahma			IND	1830	AS	7,5	59,5	63,5	44,75	0	7	20	20
12	11		Sudhanshu Ranjan			IND	1931	BR	7,5	58	61,5	44,25	0	7	20	-1
13	20		Manthan Kashyap Datta			IND	1849	AS	7,5	56,5	59,5	42,25	0	7	20	13,4
14	30		Divyanshu Kumar Singh			IND	1813	BR	7,5	55,5	59	42,00	0	7	40	39,6
15	8		Umashankar A			IND	1983	PY	7	64	69	45,25	0	6	20	3,4
16	5		Kumar Gaurav			IND	2057	BR	7	64	69	44,75	0	6	20	-14,6
17	9		Tanmay Rajbongshi	U14		IND	1960	AS	7	63	67,5	44,75	0	5	40	-3,2
18	14		Ayan Pal			IND	1879	WB	7	62	66,5	45,25	0	6	20	11,8
19	10		Anup Shankar R			IND	1939	TN	7	62	66,5	43,75	0	5	20	15,8
20	16	AIM	Banik Hrishikesh Kumar	U14		IND	1871	WB	7	61,5	66	44,00	0	5	40	10,4
21	25		Himanshu Ranjan			IND	1829	BR	7	59,5	63,5	42,25	0	6	20	23
22	41		Rituraj Tamuli			IND	1751	AS	7	59	64,5	43,25	0	6	20	24,6
23	29		Aahil Patra	U12		IND	1822	WB	7	59	63,5	41,50	0	7	40	22
24	32		Sagnik Halder	U14		IND	1806	WB	7	57,5	61	40,50	0	5	40	3,2
25	35		Sandeep Santhosh			IND	1793	KL	7	57	61	41,25	0	6	20	15,8