Christian Bauer wins 10th Martinique Open - Joel Gratien Memorial, Priyanka second and Karthik third
GM Christian Bauer (FRA), WGM Priyanka Nutakki and GM Karthik Venkataraman, scored 7/9 each at 10th Martinique Open - Joel Gratien Memorial. Bauer won the tournament due to better tie-breaks. Priyanka and Karthik were adjudged second and third respectively. The Asian Continental Women 2022 Silver medalist, defeated two GMs in the last two rounds - Romain Edouard (FRA) and Harsha Bharathakoti, to make a strong second place finish. WIM Mounika Akshaya held the reigning National Senior 2022 champion, Karthik to a draw. Both Harsha and Karthik's championship hopes were shattered in the final round. The total prize fund of the tournament was €12200. The top three prizes were €3000, €2000 and €1300 along with a trophy each. Photo: Ligue d'Echecs de la Martinique
Priyanka wins against two GMs in the last two games
WGM Priyanka Nutakki showed her strength by beating GM Romain Edouard (FRA) and GM Harsha Bharathakoti in the last two rounds. Thus, ending Harsha's first place hopes. His coleader, GM Karthik Venkataraman was held to a draw by WIM Mounika Akshaya. He ended up finishing third. Priyanka also won the Best Female player prize, while Mounika finished seventh overall, received the second prize in Best Female category and also a first place in another category. This tenth edition of the Martinique Open was organized by Ligue d'Echecs de Martinique in memory of Joël Gratien who worked for the Martinique Chess League since its creation in 1985. This chess enthusiast passed away on 23rd September 2022.
Apart from finishing overall second, WGM Priyanka Nutakki also won the first prize in Best Female category. WIM Mounika Akshaya secured second place.
WGM Priyanka Nutakki defeated two GMs in the last two rounds.
Her only two losses were against WIM Mounika Akshaya in Round 3 and the eventual champion, GM Christian Bauer in Round 6.
A total of 62 players including 4 GMs, aWGM and a WIM took part from four countries across the world. The tournament was organized by Ligue d'Echecs de Martinique from 3rd to 7th April 2023 at Hotel Karibea in Saint Luce, France. The nine-round Swiss league rating tournament had a time control of 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move no. 1.
Round 9 results
| Ech. | Pts | Blancs | Res. | Noirs | Pts | ||
| 1 | 6 | NUTAKKI Priyanka | 2329 F | 1 - 0 | BHARATHAKOTI Harsha | 2608 F | 6½ |
| 2 | 5½ | BOMMINI Mounika Akshaya | 2092 F | X - X | VENKATARAMAN Karthik | 2516 F | 6½ |
| 3 | 6 | BAUER Christian | 2594 F | 1 - 0 | SUEZ-PANAMA Gilles | 1903 F | 5½ |
| 4 | 5½ | EDOUARD Romain | 2531 F | 1 - 0 | GUILLAUME Marvin | 1858 F | 5½ |
| 5 | 5½ | TASTET Florian | 1770 N | 1 - 0 | WHITE Chris | 1733 F | 5½ |
Final standings
| Pl | Nom | Elo | Cat. | Fede | Ligue | Club | Pts | Tr. | NV | Perf | |
| 1 | g | BAUER Christian | 2594 F | SenM |  | CVL | C'Chartres Echecs | 7 | 43½ | 5 | 2546 |
| 2 | gf | NUTAKKI Priyanka | 2329 F | SenF |  | 7 | 43 | 7 | 2381 | ||
| 3 | g | VENKATARAMAN Karthik | 2516 F | SenM | | 7 | 43 | 5 | 2488 | ||
| 4 | g | BHARATHAKOTI Harsha | 2608 F | SenM | | 6½ | 45½ | 5 | 2502 | ||
| 5 | g | EDOUARD Romain | 2531 F | SenM | | HDF | L'Echiquier Cappellois | 6½ | 45 | 5 | 2468 |
| 6 | TASTET Florian | 1770 N | SenM | | GUA | Echecs Club de Petit Bourg | 6½ | 39 | 6 | 1926 | |
| 7 | mf | BOMMINI Mounika Akshaya | 2092 F | JunF | | 6 | 41 | 5 | 2068 | ||
| 8 | DOUGLAS Lionel | 1700 F | SenM | | GUA | Echecs Club de Petit Bourg | 6 | 38½ | 5 | 1791 | |
| 9 | CHANCEREL Dominique | 1692 F | VetM | | MAR | Arsenal | 6 | 36 | 6 | 1654 | |
| 10 | GUILLAUME Marvin | 1858 F | SenM | | MAR | Echecs Anlè Moun | 5½ | 43½ | 5 | 1884 |
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