Rithvik's first tournament triumph of the year
On Sunday 18th December 2022, hours before the spectacular FIFA World Cup 2022 Finals kicked off, GM Raja Rithvik R won his first tournament of the year - 9th Sunway Sitges International Chess Festival - Blitz 18/12. Despite starting as the 20th seed, he score 8.5/9, remained undefeated, performed at 2746 and gained 77.2 Elo rating points in the process. His wins include against GM B Adhiban, GM Frederik Svane (GER) and GM Aravindh Chithambaram in the final round.
GM Raja Rithvik R defeated the reigning National Blitz champion, GM Aravindh Chithambaram in the final round
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A total of 117 players including 10 GMs, 14 IMs, 3 WGMs and 3 IMs took part from 33 countries all over the world. The one-day nine-round Swiss league Blitz Rating tournament was organized by Club d'Escacs Sunway Sitges and Penya d'Escacs Casino Prado Suburense at Hotel Sunway Playa Gold and Spa in Sitges (Barcelona), Spain on 18th November 2022. The time control of the tournament was 3 minutes + 2 seconds increment from move no.1.
Final standings
| Rk. | SNo | Name | FED | Rtg | Club/City | Pts. | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 | |
| 1 | 20 | GM | Raja Rithvik R | IND | 2330 | 8,5 | 48 | 50,5 | 47,25 | |
| 2 | 1 | GM | Van Foreest Jorden | NED | 2663 | 7 | 48,5 | 52,5 | 40,00 | |
| 3 | 3 | GM | Adhiban B. | IND | 2613 | 7 | 48 | 52 | 37,75 | |
| 4 | 12 | GM | Henderson De La Fuente Lance | AND | 2405 | 7 | 46 | 50 | 36,25 | |
| 5 | 2 | GM | Jones Gawain C B | ENG | 2657 | 7 | 44,5 | 48 | 35,50 | |
| 6 | 10 | GM | Arjun Kalyan | IND | 2426 | 6,5 | 54 | 58,5 | 40,50 | |
| 7 | 4 | GM | Aravindh Chithambaram Vr. | IND | 2586 | 6,5 | 49,5 | 54 | 35,50 | |
| 8 | 29 | IM | Reprintsev Alexander | UKR | 2230 | 6,5 | 49,5 | 53 | 35,75 | |
| 9 | 6 | GM | Svane Frederik | GER | 2466 | 6,5 | 47,5 | 51,5 | 33,75 | |
| 10 | 5 | GM | Cheng Bobby | AUS | 2476 | 6,5 | 47 | 51,5 | 35,00 |
