Satheesh wins Chalakudy Chess Academy Below 1600 Rating Tournament 2023

by Shahid Ahmed - 01/03/2023

Satheesh M scored an unbeaten 8.5/9 to win Chalakudy Chess Academy Below 1600 Rating Tournament 2023. He finished a half point ahead of the field and also defeated the eventual runner-up. 12-year-old Sayanth Krishna scored 8/9 to finish second. He gained a massive 150 Elo rating points. 14-year-old Sidharth Mohan and Jos Paul Davis scored 7.5/9 each. They were placed third and fourth according to tie-breaks. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹300000. Top three prizes were ₹25000, ₹15000 and ₹10000 along with a trophy each. A total of 382 players participated in this three-day nine-round Swiss League Rating tournament organized Chalakudy Chess Academy in Thrissur, Kerala from 10th to 12th February 2023. Photo: Vipin Vijayan/Chalakudy Chess Academy

Satheesh's first rating tournament victory

Satheesh M had won only one non-rated tournament in November 2022. Less than two months later, he won his first rating tournament at this event. Despite a draw in the second round, he chained seven wins in-a-row to win the tournament. In the penultimate round, he defeated the eventual runner-up, Sayanth Krishna to get into the sole lead 7.5/8. Then he won against Joju K V in the final round to become a clear winner 8.5/9. The remaining two podium finishers are less than 14-years-old. They both finished a half point apart. Hence tie-breaks did not come into question.

Top 3 (L to R) - 2nd Sayanth Krishna 8/9, 1st Satheesh M 8.5/9 and 3rd Sidharth Mohan 7.5/9 | Photo: Vipin Vijayan/Chalakudy Chess Academy

Top three with the organizing team and arbiters | Photo: Vipin Vijayan/Chalakudy Chess Academy

Satheesh M scored an unbeaten 8.5/9, including seven wins in-a-row to become champion and gain 36 Elo rating points

Inaugural first move is being made | Photo: Vipin Vijayan/Chalakudy Chess Academy

Trophies for the prize winners | Photo: Vipin Vijayan/Chalakudy Chess Academy

Players receiving their prize | Photo: Vipin Vijayan/Chalakudy Chess Academy

A total of 382 players participated from various states across India and one from Sri Lanka in this three-day nine-round Swiss League Rating tournament. The tournament was organized by Chalakudi Chess Academy from 10th to 12th February 2023 at SNDP Hall in Thrissur, Kerala. The time control for the event was 30 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move no.1.

Final standings

Rk.	SNo		Name	Gr	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	10		Satheesh M		IND	1492	8,5	48,5	52,5	50,75
2	52		Sayanth Krishna		IND	1335	8	53	55,5	47,00
3	18		Sidharth Mohan		IND	1444	7,5	49	53,5	44,50
4	31		Jos Paul Davis		IND	1398	7,5	43	47	40,75
5	40		Sajan C.T.		IND	1370	7	52	56	41,25
6	25		Rahul V S		IND	1419	7	52	56	39,50
7	9		Ebin Benny		IND	1495	7	51	55	40,50
8	126	AFM	Ishaan K Sibin		IND	1203	7	50	54	37,25
9	76		Niranjana N		IND	1289	7	50	53,5	40,25
10	69		Shree Hari Palaniappa S		IND	1303	7	49,5	51,5	37,75
11	35		Bhuvanesh G		IND	1385	7	49	53	38,00
12	26		Joju K V		IND	1413	7	47,5	51	37,50
13	33		Lakshmanan K A		IND	1395	7	47	51	37,00
14	4		Prince Mundakayam		IND	1540	7	46,5	51	36,50
15	38		Karthik P		IND	1371	7	46	49,5	36,25
16	93		Imran Hussain		IND	1258	7	45,5	48	36,00
17	45		Dhruv S Nair		IND	1358	7	43,5	48	35,75
18	14		Gopinath P		IND	1484	7	41	44,5	33,50
19	11		Sandeep Santhosh		IND	1489	6,5	49,5	53,5	36,25
20	3		Dhrikshu K Vasant		IND	1546	6,5	49	53,5	37,50