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Harsha Bharathakoti dominates 24th HZ University of Applied Sciences Open 2022

by Shahid Ahmed - 16/08/2022

GM Harsha Bharathakoti started 24th HZ University of Applied Sciences Open with three consecutive wins. He lost the fourth round game to FM Shreyas Royal (ENG). The 21-year-old did not let that loss deter him. He went on to win the next five games to finish a full point ahead of the field 8/9. Seven players scored 7/9. Former World Champion GM Ruslan Ponomariov (UKR) and IM Liam Vrolijk (NED) was placed second and third according to tie-breaks. Top three prizes were €2000, €1300 and €800 each. Harsha becomes the second Indian after K Sasikiran (2004 and 2010) to win this event which has been won by the likes of Ivan Sokolov, Rustam Kasimdzhanov, Michal Krasenkow, Fabiano Caruana, Baadur Jobava and Loek van Wely among others. Photo: Official site

Harsha's first tournament triumph of the year

This is Harsha's fourth podium finish and first tournament victory of the year. Earlier this year, he finished third at 19th Delhi International GM Open 2022, second at Paris IdF Masters and third at Czech Open Rapid last month. He has had several top ten finishes in this year. A tournament triumph finally will certainly boost his confidence and encourage him to do well in his upcoming events.

Champion - GM Harsha Bharathakoti 8/9 | Photo: Official site

Runner-up - GM Ruslan Ponomariov (UKR) 7/9 | Photo: Official site

Second Runner-up - IM Liam Vrolijk (NED) 7/9 | Photo: Official site

Beerdsen - Harsha, Round 8

Position after 41.Rf7

Generally, it might seem like 41.Rf7 is a good idea as White gets connected passed pawns on the g and h-file after Bxc3 42.Rxh7. However, it is certainly difficult to promote it because Black has a bishop pair which is much stronger than the lone rook.

Harsha defeated fellow countrymate Lalit Rohit in the final round to win the tournament | Photo: Official site

Harsha Bharathakoti bounced back strong after fourth round loss by scoring five consecutive wins | Source: Official site

Harsha plays against Lalit while the former world champion Ruslan Ponomariov observes their game | Photo: Official site

The huge and spacious tournament hall at HZ University of Applied Sciences, Vlissingen, Netherlands | Photo: Official site

A total of 203 players including 8 GMs and 6 IMs from 14 countries across the world took part in this eight-day nine-round Rating tournament. The event was organized by Hans Groffen, Corné Boogaard and others at HZ University of Applied Sciences, Vlissingen from 7th to 13th August 2022. The time control for the tournament was 90 minutes for 40 moves, 30 minutes extra for remainder of the game and 30 seconds increment per move from move 1.

Replay all games

Final standings

RankNameScoreFed.M/FRatingTPRW-WeMutualBHSBPS123456789
1GM Harsha Bharathakoti8.0INDM25572638+0.810.050.544.039.0111011111
2GM Ponomariov, Ruslan7.0UKRM26422607-0.17.55.542.038.5111½1½1½½
3IM Vrolijk, Liam7.0NEDM24642603+1.80.55.041.2538.0111½1½½1½
4IM Beerdsen, Thomas7.0NEDM25132490-0.03.55.040.537.5111½½1101
5GM Baklan, Vladimir7.0UKRM25822522-0.35.54.541.037.011½11½½½1
6Grutter, Tim7.0NEDM22462490+2.80.53.039.7536.011½110½11
7GM Ikonnikov, Vyacheslav7.0FIDM24932571+1.13.52.539.2538.51111½½½1½
8FM Pham, Khoi7.0NEDM23762355+0.02.51.538.535.511101½½11
9GM Lalith Babu M R6.5INDM25492545+0.31.56.038.039.01111½1½½0
10FM Royal, Shreyas6.5ENGM23752442+1.07.53.536.2536.511110101½
11IM Dhulipalla Bala Chandra Pr6.5INDM24312416+0.18.52.537.035.01110½11½½
12FM De Jong, Tom6.5NEDM21912332+1.53.52.536.2534.011=1½½011
13GM Santiago, Yago De Moura6.5BRAM24902524+0.82.52.035.2537.51111½½½½½
14FM Sorbe, Stephane6.5FRAM23532363+0.47.52.034.535.0111½01101
15GM Schoppen, Casper6.5NEDM25072386-0.93.51.536.035.0111½½½½½1

Details

Links

Official site

Tournament regulations