Harish Sharma sensational at 1st SDCA Rapid Rating Open 2024

by Shahid Ahmed - 18/09/2024

Harish Sharma scored an unbeaten 8.5/9 to win 1st SDCA Rapid Rating Open 2024. He finished a half point ahead of the rest. Five playeres - FM Garv Gaur, Dhyey Agarwal, Kartavya Anadkat, IM Aaryan Varshney and CM Vivaan Vishal Shah scored 8/9 each. They secured second to sixth place according to tie-breaks. Top four finishers remained undefeated. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹200000. The top three prizes were ₹25000, ₹15000 and ₹10000 along with a trophy each respectively. The two-day rapid rating tournament was organized by Surat District Chess Association on 24th and 25th August 2024 at P R Khatiwala Sankul in Surat, Gujarat. This is Harish's second rating tournament triumph of the year. He is the reigning 11th National Amateur Below 2300 Open champion. Photos: Ravindra Potawad

Harish wins his second rating tournament of the year

FM Jeet Jain, Dhyey Agarwal, Kartavya Anadkat and the reigning National Amateur Below 2300 Open champion, Harish Sharma were the four players at 7.5/8, heading into the final round. Kartavya drew with Dhyey, Jeet lost to Harish. Thus, Harish became a clear champion. WCM Gundala Madanasri lost to FM Garv Gaur. Garv secured second place and Dhyey third. CM Vivaan Vishal Shah is the youngest top ten finisher of the event. He scored 8/9 to be placed sixth.

Champion - Harish Sharma 8.5/9

Runner-up - FM Garv Gaur 8/9

Second runner-up - Dhyey Agarwal 8/9

Top 3 (L to R): 3rd Dhyey Agarwal 8/9, 1st Harish Sharma 8.5/9 and 2nd FM Garv Gaur 8/9

Harish Sharma scored an unbeaten 8.5/9, finished a half point ahead of the rest and gained 43.6 Elo rating points

Highlights and prize distribution ceremony | Photo: ChessBase India Gujarati

A total of 553 players including 2 IMs took part from all over the country in this two-day nine round Rapid Rating Open tournament. It was organized by Surat District Chess Association at P R Khatiwala Vidya Sankul in Surat, Gujarat on 24th and 25th August 2024. The time control of the event was 25 minutes + 5 seconds increment per move.

Final standings

Rk.	SNo		Name	Typ	sex	FED	RtgI	Club/City	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB4	TB5	w-we	K	rtg+/-
1	11		Sharma Harish			IND	1960	DL	8,5	51	53	49,00	0	8	2,19	20	43,8
2	5	FM	Garv Gaur			IND	2043	HR	8	54	58	50,25	0	7	0,92	40	36,8
3	3		Dhyey Agarwal	U16		IND	2133	GJ-Surat	8	54	57,5	49,25	0	7	0,44	40	17,6
4	6		Anadkat Kartavya			IND	2040	GJ	8	53,5	55	47,00	0	7	1,03	20	20,6
5	1	IM	Aaryan Varshney			IND	2199	DL	8	50,5	52	44,50	0	8	-0,36	20	-7,2
6	12	CM	Vivaan Vishal Shah	U12		IND	1942	GJ-Surat	8	49	53	46,50	0	8	0,01	40	0,4
7	4	FM	Jeet Jain			IND	2105	GJ-Surat	7,5	53,5	58	45,50	0	7	-0,26	20	-5,2
8	25		Ujjawal Bansal			IND	1733	GJ	7,5	52	56	45,25	0	7	2,28	40	91,2
9	2	IM	Aaditya Dhingra			IND	2148	HR	7,5	51,5	54,5	42,75	0	7	-0,68	40	-27,2
10	16		Aadish Shah	U14		IND	1864	GJ	7,5	49	53,5	44,25	0	7	-0,43	40	-17,2
11	13		Sanjeet Manohar			IND	1898	GJ	7,5	47	51	41,75	0	7	-0,36	20	-7,2
12	19		Akshat Negi			IND	1780	DL	7,5	46	50,5	41,75	0	7	-0,05	20	-1
13	28		Harsh Pareshbhai Ruparel			IND	1727	GJ	7,5	44,5	46	38,25	0	7	-0,25	20	-5
14	7	CM	Aansh Nandan Nerurkar	U12		IND	2022	MH	7	55,5	59	43,00	0	7	-0,21	40	-8,4
15	17	AGM	Gopal Krishna Maheshwari			IND	1815	UP	7	52	57	41,00	0	7	0,53	40	21,2
16	20		Pandey Arpit			IND	1774	MH	7	51,5	53,5	37,50	0	7	0,99	20	19,8
17	134		Veer Rakeshkumar Patel	U10		IND	1495	GJ	7	49,5	52	38,50	0	7	2,41	40	96,4
18	30		Chinaiwala Nimesh R			IND	1717	GJ-Surat	7	49	52	37,50	0	7	0,45	40	18
19	8	ACM	Iyer Arvind	U16		IND	2009	MH	7	47,5	50,5	37,00	0	7	-1,20	40	-48
20	50	AIM	Patel Neehal Trishulkumar	U16		IND	1654	GJ	7	47,5	50,5	35,50	0	7	0,73	40	29,2