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Leon Luke Mendonca finishes with an immaculate 9/9 after winning 27th Hit Open 2023

by Shahid Ahmed - 24/03/2023

Generally after winning a tournament in a dominating fashion, players tend to relax. That's not what GM Leon Luke Mendonca did. After clinching 27th Hit Open 2023 on the previous day, the teenager went on to defeat FM Domen Tisaj to score a perfect 9/9. It will be very difficult to tie Leon's record let alone break it, unless the future editions get an extra round or two. The top three prizes were €1000, €750 and €500 each respectively. Leon performed at 3196 which earned him 26.4 Elo rating points, inching closer towards the 2600 Elo rating mark. This is Leon's second consecutive tournament triumph of the month where he remained undefeated after winning 38th ChessOrg Festival Bad Woerishofen 2023 on 11th March.

Leon performs at 3196

The brand ambassador of Geno and Microsense, GM Leon Luke Mendonca has been hitting all the right notes lately. After winning the 27th Hit Open 2023, he did not slow down. He won the ninth-round game to finish with 9/9 and a rating performance of 3196.

GM Leon Luke Mendonca scored another win in the final round after winning 27th Hit Open 2023 to finish with a 100% score 9/9
The secret sauce of scoring 9.0/9 | Leon Mendonca on winning HIT Open 2023 and reaching 2596 Elo | Video: ChessBase India

Domen - Leon

Position after 21...Qc6

A well-timed offer of a queen exchange gave Leon a long-term positional advantage against FM Domen Tisaj (SLO, 2372). Computer recommends declining the exchange 22.Qe2 Ba3 23.Rb1 e4 and White's position stays unpleasant. The game continued 22.Qxc6 Rxc6 23.Nb1 Ne4 24.Be1 all White's pieces are now on the first rank f5 25.f3 Nf6 and Black went on to win the game eventually.

Leon's perfect 9/9 earned him 26.4 Elo rating points

The maestro Vishy Anand congratulated his WACA student

The tournament hall | Photo: Chess Club Nova Gorica

A total of 84 players including 10 GMs and an IM took part in the A group (>1500) from 13 countries across the world. The eight-day nine-round Swiss league Rating tournament was organized by Chess Club Nova Gorica in Nova Gorica, Slovenia from 16th to 23rd March 2023. The time control of the tournament was 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move no.1.

Replay Round 9 games

Round 9 results

Bo.No. NameRtgPts.ResultPts.NameRtg No.PGN
112
FMTisaj, Domen23720 - 18GMMendonca, Leon Luke2558
1PGN
29
GMTratar, Marko23976½ - ½FMFavaloro, Andrea2407
8PGN
354
Kozlovic, Jernej18780 - 1GMBrunello, Sabino2512
2PGN
415
FMBifulco, Michel2312½ - ½GMCvitan, Ognjen2446
4PGN
55
GMStrikovic, Aleksa24461 - 05IMWadsworth, Matthew J2439
6PGN
63
GMBeliavsky, Alexander G249951 - 05CMGarsky, Vladyslav2253
21PGN
717
FMBeletic, Daniel226950 - 15FMDobrovoljc, Vid2384
10PGN
811
GMDavies, Nigel R23805½ - ½5Zamar Kodelja, Jurij2254
20PGN
913
GMDrazic, Sinisa236851 - 05FMBelli, Giorgio2192
25PGN
1019
GMDjuric, Stefan225650 - 15FMLavrencic, Matic2319
14PGN

Details

Final standings

Rk.SNo NameFEDRtgIPts. TB1  TB2  TB3 
11
GMMendonca, Leon LukeIND25589047,552,5
22
GMBrunello, SabinoITA25126,504852,5
39
GMTratar, MarkoSLO23976,5047,552,5
45
GMStrikovic, AleksaSRB24466,5046,551,5
54
GMCvitan, OgnjenCRO24466046,551
614
FMLavrencic, MaticSLO23196044,548,5
78
FMFavaloro, AndreaITA24076044,548,5
815
FMBifulco, MichelITA23126043,547,5
913
GMDrazic, SinisaSRB2368604346,5
103
GMBeliavsky, Alexander GSLO24996042,547

Details

Links

Official site