Harikrishnan A Ra clinches VHNSN College Rapid Rating Open 2023 with a perfect 9/9
IM FT Harikrishnan A Ra scored a perfect 9/9 to win Virudhunagar Hindu Nadars' Senthikumara Nadar College Rapid Rating Open 2023. Harikrishnan finished a full point ahead of the competition. Ram S Krishnan scored sole 8/9 to secure second place. FM P Maheshwaran, IM Murali Krishnan B T and P Dharmaraj scored 7.5/9 each. They were placed second, third and fourth respectively. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹150000. The top three prizes were ₹20000, ₹16000 and ₹12000 each respectively. This is Harikrishnan's eighth Rating tournament triumph of the year. He remained undefeated in all his triumphs in 2023 and this is also his second triumph with a 100% score. Photos: IA R Anantharam
Harikrishnan wins his eighth rating tournament of 2023
International Master Harikrishnan A Ra scored a triple hat-trick in nine rounds to win the VHNSN College rapid rating tournament at Virudhunagar, a district headquarters in Tamil Nadu, on 3rd September. This follows his recent blitz victory with another centum score of 11/11 score in the Pays de Charleroi blitz tournament in Charleroi, Belgium. He also won the Classical event.
The next best scorer in the tournament was Ram S Krishnan of BSNL, a former national rapid champion, who had eight points to his credit.
Former Tamil Nadu junior champion FM Maheswaran P from Virudhunagar district, IM Murali Krishnan B T of Southern Railway and P Dharmaraj of Thoothukudi tied for the places from three to five and they were placed in that order. All the three players had collected 7.5 points each.
The more heartening news for Virudhunagar on the final day of the tournament is that A Kumaresh from the town won the Asian Amateur championship in Dubai. Kumaresh is currently training at Hatsun Chess Academy, Sivakasi, 20 km away from his town and a former student of Brilliant Chess Academy, Virudhunagar. He is also a former student of Sri Kaliswari College Sivakasi, a strong supporter of chess, which has organized many nationals and rating tournaments.
Nine players had a similar score of seven points, among whom the sixth place went to the former national under 11 champion G Aakash of Coimbatore, who recently defeated a grandmaster in a norm tournament.
B Sidhhartha and TJ Rathish, a former State under-14 Rapid champion from Virudhunagar had the honour of cementing the seventh and eighth places
K Shrinimeshika, a product of Hatsun Chess Academy was the only girl to find a place among the top ten achievers. She got the tenth position.
R Srinivasa Perumal IPS, Superintendent of Police Virudhunagar district who is a staunch chess lover and player inaugurated the tournament. Can you guess the position on the board of the match between the Chief Guest and the Secretary of the college, MD Sarpparajan?
A total of 236 players including 2 IMs participated from Tamil Nadu. The two-day nine-round Swiss league Rapid Rating tournament was held on 2nd and 3rd September 2023. It was organized by Virudhunagar Chess Club at VHNSN College in Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu. The time control for event was 15 minutes + 10 seconds increment from move no.1.
Final standings
| Rk. | SNo | Name | Typ | sex | FED | Rtg | Club/City | Pts. | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 | TB4 | TB5 | n | w | we | w-we | K | rtg+/- | |
| 1 | 1 | IM | Harikrishnan.A.Ra, | IND | 2301 | TN | 9 | 54,5 | 57,5 | 57,50 | 0 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7,40 | 0,60 | 20 | 12 | ||
| 2 | 5 | Ram, S. Krishnan | IND | 1983 | TN | 8 | 53,5 | 57,5 | 48,50 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6,59 | 0,41 | 20 | 8,2 | |||
| 3 | 3 | FM | Maheswaran, P. | IND | 2162 | TN-V | 7,5 | 53,5 | 59 | 46,25 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 6,5 | 6,68 | -0,18 | 20 | -3,6 | ||
| 4 | 2 | IM | Murali, Krishnan B T | IND | 2216 | TN | 7,5 | 52,5 | 56,5 | 45,75 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 6,5 | 7,36 | -0,86 | 20 | -17,2 | ||
| 5 | 7 | Dharmaraj, P. | IND | 1669 | TN | 7,5 | 48,5 | 52,5 | 41,25 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 6,5 | 7,27 | -0,77 | 20 | -15,4 | |||
| 6 | 4 | Aakash, G | U14 | IND | 1986 | TN | 7 | 53,5 | 55 | 38,50 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 5,79 | 0,21 | 40 | 8,4 | ||
| 7 | 16 | AFM | Siddhartha, B | U14 | IND | 1356 | TN | 7 | 51,5 | 56,5 | 41,50 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 4,13 | 0,87 | 40 | 34,8 | |
| 8 | 9 | Rathish, T.J. | IND | 1640 | TN-V | 7 | 51 | 55,5 | 42,00 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 6,54 | -0,54 | 20 | -10,8 | |||
| 9 | 22 | AFM | Sachiel, Parthiban | U12 | IND | 1281 | TN | 7 | 49,5 | 54,5 | 39,50 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 3,38 | 1,62 | 40 | 64,8 | |
| 10 | 20 | Shrinimeshika, K | w | IND | 1290 | TN-V | 7 | 48 | 52 | 36,00 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 4,75 | 1,25 | 40 | 50 | ||
| 11 | 13 | Prawin, K | IND | 1419 | TN | 7 | 47 | 51,5 | 37,00 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 5,69 | 0,31 | 40 | 12,4 | |||
| 12 | 34 | Rohith, P | U12 | IND | 1179 | TN-V | 7 | 47 | 51 | 34,50 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 2,51 | 2,49 | 40 | 99,6 | ||
| 13 | 17 | Kirpesh, I | IND | 1346 | TN-V | 7 | 46,5 | 50,5 | 37,50 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 5,49 | 0,51 | 40 | 20,4 | |||
| 14 | 6 | Alaguraja, M.A. | IND | 1754 | TN | 7 | 46,5 | 50,5 | 35,50 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 7,84 | -1,84 | 20 | -36,8 | |||
| 15 | 12 | Ram, Kailash Pl | IND | 1499 | TN | 6,5 | 52,5 | 56 | 36,25 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 5,5 | 5,57 | -0,07 | 20 | -1,4 | |||
| 16 | 26 | Akshaya, Vignesh M | U10 | IND | 1231 | TN-V | 6,5 | 48,5 | 52,5 | 35,50 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 2,5 | 1,64 | 0,86 | 40 | 34,4 | ||
| 17 | 25 | Kamalesh, T | U14 | IND | 1236 | TN-V | 6,5 | 48 | 51,5 | 33,75 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 4,5 | 2,80 | 1,70 | 40 | 68 | ||
| 18 | 14 | Surya, Sathiaguru | IND | 1380 | TN-V | 6,5 | 47 | 51 | 33,75 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 4,5 | 4,41 | 0,09 | 40 | 3,6 | |||
| 19 | 32 | Santhosh, Varma S | IND | 1206 | TN | 6,5 | 47 | 50,5 | 29,75 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 5,5 | 4,65 | 0,85 | 20 | 17 | |||
| 20 | 23 | Akul, Vishruth T | U14 | IND | 1254 | TN-V | 6,5 | 47 | 49 | 31,50 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 4,5 | 4,06 | 0,44 | 40 | 17,6 |
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
