12-year-old Kushagra Jain triumphs at 1st TMCA Rating Open 2022

by Shahid Ahmed - 08/12/2022

12-year-old Kushagra Jain scored an unbeaten 8/9 to win 1st TMCA Rating Open 2022. Three players including the top seed, IM Vikramaditya Kulkarni scored 7.5/9 each. Vikramaditya, and Viresh Sharnarthi were placed second and third respectively according to tie-breaks. 12-year-old Kalyani Sirin is the highest finisher among female participants. She finished fourth overall with a score of 7.5/9 and won the first prize in Rating Category 1301-1600. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹250000. The top three prizes were ₹40000, ₹25000 and ₹15000 along with a trophy each. The six-day Rating tournament was organized by Tactical Moves Chess Academy. It was their first Rating tournament and they did it without having any sponsor. Photo: Tactical Moves Chess Academy

Kushagra's first Rating tournament triumph

Kushagra Jain won the tournament at a tender age of 12, scoring an impressive 8/9 and remained undefeated. Four players were at 7/8 heading into the final round. They were - Arpan Das, Shrayan Majumder, Viresh Sharnarthi and Kushagra. Despite having the lowest tie-breaks and black pieces in the last round, Kushagra overcame all odds and beat Arpan to become champion. It was his only way to win the tournament and the remaining two results also worked out in his favor.

Champion - Kushagra Jain 8/9 | Photo: Tactical Moves Chess Academy

Runner-up - IM Vikramaditya Kulkarni 7.5/9 | Photo: Tactical Moves Chess Academy

Second Runner-up - Viresh Sharnarthi 7.5/9 | Photo: Tactical Moves Chess Academy

Kushagra Jain scored an unbeaten 8/9, finished a half point ahead of the field and gained 57.6 Elo rating points

Overall 4th and 1st in Rating category 1301-1600 - Kalyani Sirin 7.5/9 | Photo: Tactical Moves Chess Academy

4th Arpan Das 7/9 | Photo: Tactical Moves Chess Academy

6th Manas Gaikwad 7/9 | Photo: Tactical Moves Chess Academy

7th Roneet Das 7/9 | Photo: Tactical Moves Chess Academy

8th Shlok Sharnarthi 6.5/9 | Photo: Tactical Moves Chess Academy

9th Avirat Chauhan 6.5/9 | Photo: Tactical Moves Chess Academy

88-year-old T V Subramanian was the oldest participant in the field | Photo: Tactical Moves Chess Academy

T V Subramanian scored an impressive 5/9 to secure third prize in the Best Veteran category.

Inauguration Ceremony | Photo: Tactical Moves Chess Academy

The Chief Guest of the Inauguration Ceremony was Niranjan Godbole, Hon. Secretary, Maharashtra Chess Association. The tournament director FI Pratik Mulay, IA Nitin Shenvi, IM Vikramaditya Kulkarni were present. Shripad Joshi was the presenter.

Niranjan Godbole and IM Vikramaditya Kulkarni made the ceremonial first move | Photo: Tactical Moves Chess Academy

Chief Arbiter IA Nitin Shenvi, FA Atharva Godbole, Deputy Chief Arbiter, FA Milind Naik, SNA Sarika Sable, Mrs. Gayatri Kulkarni, Mr Nitin Undale were also present for inaugural move.

Venue - Chinchwade Lawns in Pune, Maharashtra | Photo: Tactical Moves Chess Academy

This was the first ever rating tournament in PCMC (Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation).

1st TMCA Rating Open tournament flex | Photo: Tactical Moves Chess Academy

The tournament hall | Photo: Tactical Moves Chess Academy

Organizing team with the Arbiters | Photo: Tactical Moves Chess Academy

All prize winners in one single frame, a nice touch of fireworks | Photo: Tactical Moves Chess Academy

Sachin Chinchwade - Corporator and ex-Mayor of PCMC was Chief Guest of prize distribution ceremony. The Guest of honour were Khandushet Chinchwade - Owner of Chinchwade Lawns, Rajendra Gawade - Corporator and Yogesh Chinchwade - BJP town leader. FI Pratik Mulay, Organiser and Founder of Tactical Moves Chess Academy were present along with Shripad Joshi and IA Nitin Shenvi, Chief Arbiter. Shripad was the presenter at the closing ceremony too.

A special thanks to Tactical Moves Chess Academy for sharing the photos and information about the tournament.

A total of 218 players including an IM took part from various parts of India. The six-day nine-round Swiss league Rating tournament was organized by Tactical Moves Chess Academy. It took place at Chinchwade Lawns in Pune, Maharashtra from 15th to 20th November 2022. The time control of the tournament was 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move no.1.

Final standings

Rk.	SNo		Name	Typ	sex	Gr	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB4	TB5
1	11		Jain Kushagra	U13		PCMC	1601	8	45,5	50	44,75	0	7
2	1	IM	Kulkarni Vikramaditya				2310	7,5	51	56	45,50	0	7
3	4		Sharnarthi Viresh	U13			1742	7,5	50,5	54,5	44,00	0	6
4	15		Kalyani Sirin	U13	w		1566	7,5	47	51,5	41,25	0	7
5	2		Arpan Das				2044	7	54	59	44,75	0	6
6	3		Majumder Shrayan				1799	7	53	57	41,75	0	6
7	5		Gaikwad Manas	U13			1738	7	49	54	39,50	0	7
8	13		Sachi Jain	U13	w		1581	7	49	52	37,00	0	6
9	7		Roneet Das			PCMC	1683	7	48,5	53,5	40,25	0	6
10	32		Aditya Saxena	U13		PCMC	1385	7	43,5	47,5	33,00	0	7
11	42		Anish Naik				1328	7	41,5	45,5	35,75	0	6
12	51		Salunke Siddhant	U11		PCMC	1300	7	41,5	43	31,50	0	6
13	14		Sherla Prathamesh	U11			1577	6,5	50	53,5	35,25	0	6
14	22		Khedkar Prasad				1447	6,5	47	51	34,75	0	5
15	17		Vakcheri Mohitha		w		1535	6,5	46	50,5	34,25	0	6
16	16		Sharnarthi Shlok	U13			1547	6,5	46	50	34,25	0	6
17	31		Avirat Chauhan	U09			1389	6,5	46	49,5	32,75	0	6
18	26		Soni Atharv	U11			1427	6,5	44,5	48	31,75	0	5
19	52		Shaashvat Gupta	U11			1299	6,5	43	45,5	29,00	0	5
20	36		Nihira Koul	U11	w		1369	6,5	42	45	31,00	0	5