Harshavardhan clinches Gold at Asian Junior 2022, Rakshitta Ravi Silver in Girls
by Shahid Ahmed - 26/11/2022
IM Harshavardhan G B drew his final round game as it was enough to become Asian Junior 2022 champion. He scored an unbeaten 7/9, finished a half point ahead of the field to clinch the Gold and score a GM-norm. For the second consecutive year, an Indian player has won the Asian Junior title. The reigning National Junior Girls (Under-19) 2022 champion, WIM Rakshitta Ravi bagged a Silver in Classical and Bronze in Blitz event. She scored 7/9 and 6/9 respectively. WFM Bhagyashree Patil won Gold in the Blitz event scoring 7/9. Even a last round loss did not deter her championship hopes. The defending champion, IM Raahul V S made 6/9 to finish sixth. Photo: Asian Chess Federation
Bhagyashree Patil claims Gold in Blitz, Rakshitta Bronze
Asian Junior 2022 Open champion - IM Harshavardhan G B 7/9 | Photo: Asian Chess Federation
Asian Junior Girls 2022 Top 3 (L to R): Silver - WIM Rakshitta Ravi 7/9, Gold - Ngoc Thuy Duong Bach (VIE) 7.5/9 and Bronze - WIM Amina Kairbekova (KAZ) 6/9 | Photo: Asian Chess Federation
Asian Junior 2022 Blitz Girls Top 3 (L to R): Silver - WIM Nazerke Nurgali (KAZ) 6.5/9, Gold - WFM Bhagyashree Patil 7/9 and Bronze - WIM Rakshitta Ravi 6/9 | Photo: Asian Chess Federation
Harshavardhan - Gan-Erdene
Position after 22.g5
IM Harshavardhan G B (2426) got himself a substantial positional advantage against IM Sugar Gan-Erdene (2419). 22.g5 Bxc4 23.bxc4 fxg5 24.hxg5 Rhg8 25.Nf6 Rxg5 26.Nd5+ and White drew the game in the nexxt few moves as it was enough for him to clinch the Gold.
Team India | Photo: Asian Chess Federation
Team India Coaches - GM FT Akash G and WIM FI Mrunalini Kunte
| Photo: Asian Chess Federation
Asian Chess Federation Executive Director Casto Abundo shares a few words | Photo: Asian Chess Federation
A total of 32 players including 8 IMs in the Open and 20 players including 5 WIMs took part from Guam, Indonesia, India, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines and Vietnam. The tournament was organized by Asian Chess Federation at Knights Templar Hotel in Tagaytay, Philippines from 19th to 25th November 2022. The time control of the event was 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move no.1.