Himal Gusain dominates 1st G H Raisoni Memorial Pune Rapid Rating Open 2023
IM Himal Gusain scored an unbeaten 8.5/9 to win 1st G H Raisoni Memorial Pune Rapid Rating Open 2023. Himal finished a half point ahead of the competition. FM J Ramakrishna and FM Nikhil Dixit scored 8/9 each. They were placed second and third respectively according to tie-breaks. Himal defeated the eventual runner-up Ramakrishna in the penultimate round. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹200000. The top three prizes were ₹50000, ₹30000 and ₹20000 along with a trophy each respectively. This is Himal's fifth tournament triumph of the year. Photos: IA Vinita Shrotri/Pune District Chess Circle
Himal's fifth tournament triumph of 2023
IM Himal Gusain was the sole leader 7.5/8 heading into the final round. Six players - FM J Ramakrishna, IM Anup Deshmukh, FM Nikhil Dixit, Shrayan Majumder, CM Vaibhav Jayant Raut and Kartavya Anadkat were in pursuit 7/8 each. Himal defeated the revered veteran Anup in the final round to become a clear champion. Ramakrishna and Nikhil won against Vaibhav and Kartavya respectively to secure second and third place.
A total of 281 players including a GM and 4 IMs took part from various places all over the country and one from USA in this two-day nine round Rapid Rating Open tournament. It was organized by G H Raisoni Sports and Cultural Foundation and Kalpana Prakash Welfare Foundation at G H Raisoni Institute of Engineering & Management in Pune, Maharashtra on 1st and 2nd October 2023. The time control of the event was 20 minutes + 10 seconds increment per move.
Final standings
| Rk. | SNo | Name | Typ | sex | Gr | FED | Rtg | Club/City | Pts. | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 | TB4 | TB5 | |
| 1 | 6 | IM | Gusain, Himal | IND | 2198 | Chandigarh | 8,5 | 53,5 | 56 | 52,75 | 0 | 8 | |||
| 2 | 9 | FM | Ramakrishna, J. | IND | 2038 | Union Bank Of India | 8 | 55,5 | 58,5 | 50,00 | 0 | 8 | |||
| 3 | 7 | FM | Dixit, Nikhil | Pune | IND | 2171 | Maharashtra | 8 | 52 | 54,5 | 48,00 | 0 | 8 | ||
| 4 | 4 | GM | Laxman, R.R. | IND | 2223 | I.C.F | 7,5 | 50,5 | 53 | 44,00 | 0 | 7 | |||
| 5 | 16 | Vrandesh, Parekh | IND | 1739 | Gujarat | 7,5 | 48 | 51 | 42,75 | 0 | 7 | ||||
| 6 | 21 | Nirgun, Keval | Pune | IND | 1717 | Maharashtra | 7,5 | 47,5 | 50,5 | 39,50 | 0 | 7 | |||
| 7 | 5 | IM | Deshmukh, Anup | S55 | IND | 2217 | Maharashtra | 7 | 54 | 58 | 42,00 | 0 | 7 | ||
| 8 | 22 | Majumder, Shrayan | IND | 1700 | Maharashtra | 7 | 51 | 53 | 37,00 | 0 | 7 | ||||
| 9 | 2 | IM | Sammed, Jaykumar Shete | IND | 2269 | Maharashtra | 7 | 50,5 | 54 | 39,50 | 0 | 7 | |||
| 10 | 13 | Nikhil, M | IND | 1904 | 7 | 49,5 | 54 | 39,50 | 0 | 7 | |||||
| 11 | 3 | FM | Gahan, M G | IND | 2264 | Karnataka | 7 | 49,5 | 53,5 | 35,00 | 0 | 7 | |||
| 12 | 8 | CM | Vaibhav, Jayant Raut | IND | 2132 | Maharashtra | 7 | 49,5 | 50,5 | 36,00 | 0 | 7 | |||
| 13 | 12 | Anadkat, Kartavya | IND | 1924 | Gujarat | 7 | 48,5 | 51,5 | 38,50 | 0 | 7 | ||||
| 14 | 20 | Patil, Priyanshu | IND | 1724 | Maharashtra | 7 | 48 | 50 | 37,00 | 0 | 7 | ||||
| 15 | 23 | Chavan, Nameet | Pune | IND | 1695 | 7 | 45,5 | 48,5 | 34,50 | 0 | 7 |
