Nandhidhaa P V Golden at Asian Continental 2022 Women, Priyanka Nutakki Silver and Divya Bronze
WGM Nandhidhaa P V drew her final round game with WGM Divya Deshmukh as she had already secured the Gold on the previous day. She scored an unbeaten 7.5/9 to become champion. WGM Priyanka Nutakki defeated the former Asian Continental Women champion, IM Padmini Rout to win the Silver medal. Both Nandhidhaa and Priyanka have earned themselves a spot in the next FIDE Women's Cup 2023. Divya was adjudged third according to tie-breaks. The top three prizes were $6000, $5000 and $3000 along with a trophy each respectively. Check out the interesting games of the final round and interviews with the medal winners. Photo: Shahid Ahmed
India dominates the podium again
All three medals were claimed by the Indian players in the Women's event, just like the Open event. WGM Nandhidhaa P V and WGM Priyanka Nutakki, both have qualified to the FIDE World Cup 2023. Seven out of top 10 and 14 out of top 20 finishers were Indian players only. Nandhidhaa's ascension started from last year's 47th La Roda Open 2021 where she made a historic shared first place finish. She was also the top performer for India 3 Women at the 44th Chess Olympiad 2022. Now she won the Asian Continental Women 2022 in a dominating fashion with a round to spare. She also had her better half, an Indian Army Officer present in person at the tournament for the very first time after their marriage, which certainly gave her the extra boost in confidence and morale.
Divya - Nandhidhaa: 0.5-0.5
WGM Nandhidhaa PV (2309) got a winning position against WGM Divya Deshmukh (2338) after the former sacrificed a piece and her opponent Divya blocked the discover check incorrectly.
Black had given up her knight on e5, the g4-knight is also hanging, still 19.Nbc5 is a mistake. 19.Nac5 would have been fine for White. In a completely winning position, Nandhidhaa repeated moves to make a draw as she had already won the gold and earned her place in the FIDE Women's World Cup 20223, the result of the last round was immaterial to her final standings.
Priyanka - Padmini: 1-0
IM Padmini Rout (2390) equalized easily out of the Semi-Tarrasch opening against WGM Priyanka Nutakki (2326).
20...e5 is a very nice move as it puts White in a difficult position to make a choice on how to capture it. Computer says 21.Qxe5 causes the least harm for White. 21.Nxe5 gave Black an edge 21...Ne6 22.Qg3 Rxd4. However, soon things turned in White's favor.
White is making a couple of deadly threats Qd8# and h6. 35...Bc6 was the right way to continue. Black opted for the humane 35...Qc1+ 36.Kh2 Qd2 which allowed 37.h6 Bxf3 38.Ne3! gxh6? 39.Qxh6+ Ke8 40.Qh8+ Ke7 41.Qh6 Ke8 42.Bh3 Be4 43.Qh8+ Ke7 44.Qf6+ Kf8 45.Nc4 Qd5 46.Qh8+ Ke7 47.Nd6 and Black resigned due to the checkmate threat at e8. Great finish by Priyanka as she recovered quite well from a difficult position to win the game, earn a Silver and secure her spot in the Women's World Cup 2023.
Photo Gallery
A total of 91 players including 31 GMs and 39 IMs in the Open, 49 players including 7 IMs, 14 WGMs and 17 WIMs in the Women, took part from 13 countries across the world including India. The nine-round Swiss League tournament was held from 26th October to 3rd November 2022 at The Leela Ambience Convention Hotel, Delhi. It was organized by Delhi Chess Association. The time control of the tournament was 90 Minutes for 40 moves + 30 Minutes with increment of 30 second from move 1.
Replay Round 9 Women games
Round 9 Women results
| Bo. | No. | Name | FED | Rtg | Pts. | Result | Pts. | Name | FED | Rtg | No. | PGN | ||||
| 1 | 7 | WGM | Divya Deshmukh | IND | 2338 | 6 | ½ - ½ | 7 | WGM | Nandhidhaa P V | IND | 2309 | 13 | PGN | ||
| 2 | 11 | WGM | Priyanka Nutakki | IND | 2326 | 5½ | 1 - 0 | 6 | IM | Padmini Rout | IND | 2390 | 3 | PGN | ||
| 3 | 10 | IM | Soumya Swaminathan | IND | 2326 | 5 | 0 - 1 | 5½ | WGM | Vo Thi Kim Phung | VIE | 2335 | 9 | PGN | ||
| 4 | 21 | WIM | Rakshitta Ravi | IND | 2219 | 5 | 0 - 1 | 5 | FM | Kurmangaliyeva Liya | KAZ | 2199 | 27 | PGN | ||
| 5 | 41 | WGM | Kiran Manisha Mohanty | IND | 2030 | 5 | 0 - 1 | 5 | WGM | Nguyen Thi Mai Hung | VIE | 2217 | 23 | PGN | ||
| 6 | 1 | IM | Tania Sachdev | IND | 2406 | 4½ | ½ - ½ | 5 | WGM | Vantika Agrawal | IND | 2362 | 5 | PGN | ||
| 7 | 2 | IM | Nomin-Erdene Davaademberel | MGL | 2404 | 4½ | 1 - 0 | 4½ | WGM | Srija Seshadri | IND | 2187 | 28 | PGN | ||
| 8 | 22 | WFM | Munkhzul Davaakhuu | MGL | 2218 | 4½ | 0 - 1 | 4½ | IM | Karavade Eesha | IND | 2336 | 8 | PGN | ||
| 9 | 12 | WGM | Gomes Mary Ann | IND | 2324 | 4½ | 1 - 0 | 4½ | WIM | Salonika Saina | IND | 2209 | 25 | PGN | ||
| 10 | 16 | WIM | Cholleti Sahajasri | IND | 2246 | 4½ | 0 - 1 | 4½ | WIM | Aakanksha Hagawane | IND | 2162 | 31 | PGN |
Final standings
| Rk. | SNo | Name | FED | Rtg | Pts. | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 | TB4 | Rp | ||
| 1 | 13 | WGM | Nandhidhaa P V | IND | 2309 | 7,5 | 2282 | 44 | 47 | 0 | 2530 | |
| 2 | 11 | WGM | Priyanka Nutakki | IND | 2326 | 6,5 | 2306 | 43,5 | 46 | 0 | 2448 | |
| 3 | 7 | WGM | Divya Deshmukh | IND | 2338 | 6,5 | 2259 | 43,5 | 48 | 0 | 2414 | |
| 4 | 9 | WGM | Vo Thi Kim Phung | VIE | 2335 | 6,5 | 2250 | 42 | 45 | 0 | 2404 | |
| 5 | 27 | FM | Kurmangaliyeva Liya | KAZ | 2199 | 6 | 2327 | 43 | 47,5 | 0 | 2425 | |
| 6 | 23 | WGM | Nguyen Thi Mai Hung | VIE | 2217 | 6 | 2273 | 42 | 46 | 0 | 2352 | |
| 7 | 3 | IM | Padmini Rout | IND | 2390 | 6 | 2267 | 44,5 | 47,5 | 0 | 2381 | |
| 8 | 31 | WIM | Aakanksha Hagawane | IND | 2162 | 5,5 | 2295 | 39 | 42 | 0 | 2327 | |
| 9 | 29 | IM | Mohota Nisha | IND | 2181 | 5,5 | 2273 | 36 | 39 | 0 | 2313 | |
| 10 | 5 | WGM | Vantika Agrawal | IND | 2362 | 5,5 | 2257 | 40,5 | 43,5 | 0 | 2312 | |
| 11 | 12 | WGM | Gomes Mary Ann | IND | 2324 | 5,5 | 2230 | 41,5 | 44 | 0 | 2269 | |
| 12 | 19 | WIM | Kairbekova Amina | KAZ | 2231 | 5,5 | 2180 | 34 | 37 | 0 | 2236 | |
| 13 | 8 | IM | Karavade Eesha | IND | 2336 | 5,5 | 2177 | 36 | 39 | 0 | 2237 | |
| 14 | 2 | IM | Nomin-Erdene Davaademberel | MGL | 2404 | 5,5 | 2134 | 35 | 38 | 0 | 2195 | |
| 15 | 41 | WGM | Kiran Manisha Mohanty | IND | 2030 | 5 | 2300 | 41,5 | 45,5 | 0 | 2333 | |
| 16 | 21 | WIM | Rakshitta Ravi | IND | 2219 | 5 | 2280 | 40 | 43 | 0 | 2281 | |
| 17 | 10 | IM | Soumya Swaminathan | IND | 2326 | 5 | 2264 | 49 | 53,5 | 0 | 2293 | |
| 18 | 1 | IM | Tania Sachdev | IND | 2406 | 5 | 2236 | 43,5 | 48 | 0 | 2256 | |
| 19 | 20 | WIM | Balabayeva Xeniya | KAZ | 2230 | 5 | 2209 | 38,5 | 40 | 0 | 2221 | |
| 20 | 17 | WIM | Arpita Mukherjee | IND | 2238 | 5 | 2092 | 29 | 32 | 0 | 2114 |
