Arjun Adireddy dominates 3rd Tamil Nadu IM-norm Closed 2023 with a 2709 performance, Harsh second
CM Arjun Adireddy scored a mammoth 8.5/9 to win 3rd Tamil Nadu IM-norm Closed Circuit Chess Tournament 2023. He remained undefeated, performed at 2709, increased his Elo rating by 212.4 points and finished a full point ahead of the competition. FM Harsh Suresh scored an unbeaten 7.5/9 to finish second. Both Arjun and Harsh scored an IM-norm each. Arjun fulfilled his norm criteria in eight games. This is Harsh's second IM-norm. He finished two points ahead of the second runner-up. Previous event winner, IM Asylbek Abdyzhapar (KGZ) scored 5.5/9 to finish third. The fourth event of the series has already started yesterday on 6th November. Photos: IA R Anantharam
Arjun and Harsh score IM-norms
CM Arjun Adireddy of Telangana won the 3rd Tamil Nadu IM-Norm Closed Circuit Chess Tournament 2023 at Madurai with a scintillating performance, scoring an amazing 8.5 points in nine rounds. Arjun increased his rating by a phenomenal two hundred and twelve points and performed like a 2709 rated player in the tournament. The average rating of the tournament was 2251 and a player had to score seven points to achieve the coveted IM norm. Arjun did it in style in the eighth round itself and scored a ten game norm in nine rounds. Arjun won a cash prize of 500 USD.
Harsh, a student of Velammal School, Chennai scored 7.5 points, far ahead of the third placed Kyrgyzstan IM Asylbek Abdyzhapar to finish as the runner-up. Besides, he achieved his second IM-norm and 300 USD. Asylbek drew with Harsh in the final round and received 200 USD.
CM Arjun Adireddy started his impressive run right from the start, outplaying IM David Gochelashvili (RUS).
IM David Gochelashvili's knight sacrifice in the endgame went in vain against FM Harsh Suresh in the second round.
Sekar easily defeated WIM Isha Sharma in the two rooks vs queen endgame.
In the Modern variation of the Slav defence, Adireddy Arjun and FM Senthil Maran K of Chennai, the game had a slow start and Arjun’s one of the knights was moved from its initial position only after the 30th move and by that time the queens were exchanged! The draw position on the board suddenly changed in Arjun’s favour completely, when Senthil captured a pawn, which was not warranted. As a result, Senthil had to give up his rook to prevent Arjun’s pawn promotion. Though Senthil had three extra connected pawns, his series of mistakes cost the game.
In a similar manner, on the 34th move, a wrong rook move by B Sekar of Chennai in his Giuco Piano opening against the USA Grandmaster Raset Ziatdinov turned the game upside down in the fourth round. With all pieces equal, Raset held the upper hand with a commanding position and won on the 40th move.
Karnataka WIM Isha Sharma's connected pawns on the queenside helped her to post a win over FM Senthil Maran of Chennai in the fifth round.
Playing with the white pieces, WFM Ayan Allahverdiyeva (AZE) recovered from her five losses to score the first win against veteran IM Murugan K. Murugan continued to err from moves 27 to 30. Ayan had two rooks, a bishop and a pawn on the sixth rank, which are more than sufficient to win against Murugan who had a queen to his credit.
Sicilian defence is the most played defence in the tournament. The game between Arjun and the WFM Ayan Allahverdiyeva (AZE) is no exception. By exchanging the bishops on the 12th move, Arjun denied Ayan the advantage of castling. Arjun unleashed a hat trick of brilliant moves and untimely attack by Ayan forced her to lose a knight and also the game in 31 moves.
Harsh had a clinical victory over Ayan Allahverdiyeva in the eighth round and kept himself at the striking distance of the IM-norm.
Even after assured of the title and the norm, Arjun did not relax and went on to outplay Isha in the final round.
On the eve of the tournament, Grandmaster Raset Ziatdinov and IM David delighted over 60 school children, playing simultaneous chess with them, losing none.
Mr. Dinesh Nayak, Deputy Zonal Manager, Indian Bank inaugurated the tournament in the presence of Mr. D V Sundar, former FIDE Vice President, Mr. P Stephen Balasamy, General Secretary of Tamil Nadu State Chess Association, R Srinivasan, Treasurer TNSCA and Mr. P Pragadesh, Joint Secretary, TNSCA.
K Kathirvel, proprietor of Mapillai Vinayagar Soda Factory distributed the prizes in the presence of P Pragadesh, Joint Secretary of Tamil Nadu State Chess Association, P Uma Maheswaran, Secretary of Madurai District Chess Circle and B Dhenagaran, Secretary of Trichy District Chess Association. Mapillai Vinayagar Chess Club was the root cause for the development of players like several national age categories champion GM Magesh Chandran, former Asian Junior champion, GM Deepan Chakkravarthy, GM Priyadharshan K, National champion in all the three formats - GM Aravindh Chithambaram, IM Praveen Kumar, IM Poobesh Anand and a host of other players in Madurai.
His game against the former World Rapid champion, GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB) ended in a draw at the Grand Swiss 2023.
The next two editions of the norm tournaments will be held at Kodaikanal from 6th November.
Replay all games
Final standings
| Rk. | SNo | Name | FED | Rtg | Pts. | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 | |
| 1 | 7 | CM | Adireddy, Arjun | IND | 2155 | 8,5 | 0 | 32,75 | 8 |
| 2 | 8 | FM | Harsh, Suresh | IND | 2336 | 7,5 | 0 | 29,25 | 6 |
| 3 | 2 | IM | Abdyzhapar, Asylbek | KGZ | 2314 | 5,5 | 0 | 20,00 | 4 |
| 4 | 9 | FM | Sekar, B | IND | 2333 | 4,5 | 0 | 13,50 | 4 |
| 5 | 3 | WIM | Sharma, Isha | IND | 2191 | 4 | 1,5 | 11,75 | 3 |
| 6 | 10 | FM | Senthil, Maran K | IND | 2298 | 4 | 1 | 13,00 | 2 |
| 7 | 4 | IM | Gochelashvili, David | RUS | 2277 | 4 | 0,5 | 13,25 | 3 |
| 8 | 5 | GM | Ziatdinov, Raset | USA | 2081 | 3,5 | 0 | 10,00 | 3 |
| 9 | 6 | IM | Murugan, Krishnamoorthy | IND | 2355 | 2,5 | 0 | 12,50 | 0 |
| 10 | 1 | WFM | Allahverdiyeva, Ayan | AZE | 2198 | 1 | 0 | 2,50 | 1 |
About the Author
Prof. Rathinam Anantharam is an A-grade international arbiter. Member of FIDE Arbiters’ Commission, Chairman of Titles Commission in All India Chess Federation, Vice President of Tamil Nadu State Chess Association, Chief Arbiter for six world championships, many Asian, International and National Championships.
The report was edited by Shahid Ahmed
