16th AICFB National R1-4: Soundarya and Kishan make a perfect start 4/4

by Shahid Ahmed - 15/03/2023

Kishan Gangolli and Soundarya Kumar Pradhan are the only two players to have won their first four games at 16th AICFB National Chess Championship for Visually Challenged 2023. The six-time consecutive AICFB National champion, Kishan and defending champion, Soundarya will face each other in the fifth round. Last year they clashed in the fourth round which ended in a draw. Madhya Pradesh's Suryapratap Singh is the only player trailing them by a half point at 3.5/4. They are followed by one less than a dozen at 3/4 each. Round 5 starts today at 3:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Anshu Ahuja

Suryapratap Singh in pursuit

A total of 51 players have been selected to take part in this prestigious FIDE-rated National championship. Players who have represented India in the world are also taking part in this event. The winner of this championship is crowned as National Champion. AICFB will also select players for IBCA World Individual Chess Championship for the Blind and Visually Impaired and Asian Para Games.

Soundarya Kumar Pradhan (ODI) en route his victory over Hariharan Gandhi (TN) in Round 2 | Photo: Anshu Ahuja

Subhendu - Kishan, Round 3

Position after 30...Ba4

It is evident that Black has the upper hand due to his better placed minor pieces and advanced king. Finding the defense for White was not an easy task. The counter-intuitive 31.Bh7 was the only way to keep the game going for White. 31.Bb1 Bb3 32.Ke2 Ka4 33.Nf1 Ka3 34.Kd2 Kb2 and soon White's position fell apart.

Kishan Gangolli (KAR) won a nice endgame against Subhendu Kumar Patra (ODI) | Photo: IA Manjunatha M

Kishan - Aryan, Round 4

Position after 18...a5??

Kishan Gangolli (2113) spotted the tactic correctly after his opponent Aryan Joshi (MAH, 1874) blundered 18...a5. Find out why it is a big mistake.

Soundarya - Darpan, Round 4

Position after 21...Kh8

Find out the winning combination for White which the defending champion Soundarya Kumar Pradhan (1880) executed against Darpan Inani (GUJ, 2027) after 21...Kh8.

Photo Gallery

Players in action during Round 1-3 | Photo: IA Manjunatha M

Lighting of the lamp | Photo: IA Manjunatha M

Inauguration ceremony | Photo: IA Manjunatha M

Dr.Charudatta Jadhav, IBCA President | Photo: IA Manjunatha M

Inaugural first moves are made | Photo: IA Manjunatha M

The tournament hall | Photo: IA Manjunatha M

A total of 51 players are taking part from various states across India. The tournament is organized by All India Chess Federation for the Blind (AICFB) from 13th to 18th March 2023 at Bhayander, Maharashtra. The nine-round Swiss league tournament has a time control of 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move no.1.

Replay Round 1-4 games

Round 4 results

Bo.	No.	Name	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.	Name	Rtg	No.	PGN
1	1	Kishan, Gangolli	2113	3	1 - 0	3	Aryan, B Joshi	1874	4	PGN
2	3	Soundarya, Kumar Pradhan	1880	3	1 - 0	2½	Darpan, Inani	2027	2	PGN
3	9	Makwana, Ashvin K	1670	2½	½ - ½	2½	Saikrishna, S. T.	1757	6	PGN
4	15	Mayank, Sharma	1501	2½	½ - ½	2½	Swapanil, Shah	1689	8	PGN
5	38	Singh, Surypratap	1268	2½	1 - 0	2	Patra, Subhendu Kumar	1775	5	PGN
6	29	Akediwala, Prince D	1314	2	0 - 1	2	Samant, Milind	1632	10	PGN
7	13	Marimuthu, K	1599	2	1 - 0	2	Sanjiv, Kar	1320	26	PGN
8	25	Venkat, Reddy S	1334	2	1 - 0	2	Shashidhar, K M	1522	14	PGN
9	35	Sourabh, Mishra	1284	2	0 - 1	2	Somender, B L	1500	16	PGN
10	45	Mohammed Salih, PK	1221	2	0 - 1	2	Hariharan, Gandhi	1428	18	PGN

Details

Round 5 pairings

Bo.	No.	Name	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.	Name	Rtg	No.
1	3	Soundarya, Kumar Pradhan	1880	4		4	Kishan, Gangolli	2113	1
2	4	Aryan, B Joshi	1874	3		3½	Singh, Surypratap	1268	38
3	6	Saikrishna, S. T.	1757	3		3	Mayank, Sharma	1501	15
4	8	Swapanil, Shah	1689	3		3	Venkat, Reddy S	1334	25
5	16	Somender, B L	1500	3		3	Makwana, Ashvin K	1670	9
6	10	Samant, Milind	1632	3		3	Hariharan, Gandhi	1428	18
7	20	Deshmukh, Dnyaneshwar	1402	3		3	Marimuthu, K	1599	13
8	2	Darpan, Inani	2027	2½		2½	Shidad, M	1425	19
9	42	Madhukesh, Ram	1236	2½		2½	Patil, Shirish	1622	11
10	14	Shashidhar, K M	1522	2		2½	Shaibu, T	1385	23

Details

Links

Tournament Info

AICFB official site

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