Nubairshah Shaikh wins 2nd Jaffna Open 2024, Prajwal P Shet third

by Shahid Ahmed - 22/12/2024

IM Mohammad Nubairshah Shaikh and Sivathanujan S scored 9/10 at 2nd Jaffna International Chess Championship 2024. Nubairshah won the tournament as he defeated Sivathanujan in the seventh round. Thus, he finished second. Six players - Dr. Prajwal P Shet, IM P Konguvel, Senarathne A A H M B (SRI), Bandara Dhanushka (SRI), Samrat Ghorai and Santanu Borpatra Gohain (SRI) scored 6/8 each. They secured third to eighth place respectively according to tie-breaks. The total prize fund of the tournament was LKR 2.4 Million. The top three prizes were LKR 200000, 150000 and 100000 along with a trophy and a medal each. Priyanshu Barua and Prawin K are the remaining two Indians to make a top ten finish, scoring 8/10 each. They were placed ninth and tenth respectively. This is Nubairshah's third rating tournament triumph of the year. Photo: Jaffna District Chess Association

Indians claim seven out of top ten

Top seed, IM Mohammad Nubairshah Shaikh was the sole leader 8.5/9, going into the final round. Five players - Dr. Prajwal P Shet, Priyanshu Barua, IM P Konguvel, Sivathanujan S and Senarathne A A H M B were trailing by a half point at 8/9 each. Nubairshah drew with Konguvel to become the champion. Priyanshu lost to Sivathanujan and the latter finished second. Senarathne drew with Prajwal. The doctor was placed third.

Champion - IM Mohammad Nubairshah Shaikh 9/10 | Photo: Jaffna District Chess Association

Runner-up - Sivathanujan S 9/10 | Photo: Jaffna District Chess Association

Second Runner-up - Dr. Prajwal P Shet 8.5/10 | Photo: Jaffna District Chess Association

4th IM P Konguvel 8.5/10 | Photo: Jaffna District Chess Association

IM Nubairshah Shaikh scored an unbeaten 9/10 and won the tournament on tie-breaks

Lighting of the lamp | Photo: Jaffna District Chess Association

Players in action | Photo: Jaffna District Chess Association

Trophies for the prize winners | Photo: Jaffna District Chess Association

The tournament hall at Chelva Palace, Kokuvil in Jaffna, Sri Lanka | Photo: Jaffna District Chess Association

Prajwal clear first in Blitz, Sambarta second and Nubairshah third

Dr. Prajwal P Shet won eight games in-a-row to gain sole lead 8/8. Sambarta Banerjee was the only player trailing him by a half point at 7.5/8. Prajwal drew with Sambarta to become the champion, Sambarta secured second place. Top seed, IM Mohammad Nubairshah Shaikh defeated Bandara L R D B (SRI) to finish third. The top three prizes in Blitz were LKR 40000, 30000 and 20000 along with a trophy and medal each respectively.

Champion - Dr. Prajwal P Shet 8.5/9 | Photo: Jaffna District Chess Association

Runner-up - Sambarta Banerjee 8/9 | Photo: Jaffna District Chess Association

Second Runner-up - IM Mohammad Nubairshah Shaikh 8/9 | Photo: Jaffna District Chess Association

A total of 706 players including two IMs took part from three countries - England, India and Sri Lanka in the Classical Open. The five-day ten round Rating tournament was organized by Jaffna District Chess Association at Chelva Palace, Kokuvil in Jaffna, Sri Lanka from 30th November to 4th December 2024. The time control of the event was 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment per move.

Final standings in Classical

Rk.	SNo		Name	Typ	sex	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB4	TB5	K	rtg+/-
1	1	IM	Mohammad, Nubairshah Shaikh			IND	2417	9	1	67,5	73	8	53	10	-1,1
2	5		Sivathanujan, S			SRI	2040	9	0	65,5	68,5	9	51	20	26
3	3		Shet, Prajwal P			IND	2081	8,5	0	66	69,5	7	52	20	13,4
4	2	IM	Konguvel, Ponnuswamy	S50		IND	2222	8,5	0	65,5	69,5	7	49,5	10	-0,3
5	10		Senarathne, A A H M B			SRI	1895	8,5	0	64	67	7	49,5	20	18
6	9		Bandara, Dhanushka			SRI	1909	8,5	0	63	68	8	48	20	3,6
7	14		Samrat, Ghorai			IND	1836	8,5	0	62,5	68	8	49	20	16,6
8	8		Santanu, Borpatra Gohain			IND	1911	8,5	0	61	65,5	7	48	20	0,0
9	7		Priyanshu, Barua			IND	1984	8	0	69	74	7	51	20	14,8
10	12		Prawin, K			IND	1878	8	0	66,5	70,5	8	48	20	7
11	13		Neelabh, Jyoti Borthakur			IND	1846	8	0	63,5	68	7	47	20	-2,4
12	32		Bhavanan, J			SRI	1647	8	0	63	66,5	7	45,5	40	63,2
13	4		Sambarta, Banerjee			IND	2067	8	0	62,5	65	8	47	20	-9,8
14	15		Madushanka, Harsha			SRI	1812	8	0	61	62,5	8	47	20	6,4
15	27		Kopithan, Sabapathipillai			SRI	1688	8	0	60,5	64,5	7	45	20	34,8
16	28		Hansana, K V Tharuka	U15		SRI	1677	8	0	60	63	8	45	40	25,2
17	25	AIM	Madurawala, M G D S Shanuka	U15		SRI	1702	8	0	59	63	7	46	40	28,4
18	20		Abeysinghe, H M H Janandani		w	SRI	1749	8	0	58	63	6	44,5	20	-6
19	30		Anparasan, T			SRI	1659	8	0	57,5	61,5	7	42,5	20	-9,2
20	59		Sujinth, Tharmalingam			SRI	1548	8	0	53,5	57	8	43	20	5,6

Details

A total of 376 players including two IMs took part various parts of Sri Lanka and India in the Blitz Open event. The one-day nine round Rating tournament was organized by Jaffna District Chess Association at Chelva Palace, Kokuvil in Jaffna, Sri Lanka on 1st December 2024. The time control of the event was 3 minutes + 2 seconds increment per move.

Final standings in Blitz

Rk.	SNo		Name	Typ	sex	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB4	TB5	K	rtg+/-
1	4		Shet, Prajwal P			IND	1983	8,5	0	52,5	56,5	8	44,5	20	35,2
2	5		Sambarta, Banerjee			IND	1956	8	0	54	57,5	7	42	20	22,8
3	1	IM	Mohammad, Nubairshah Shaikh			IND	2314	8	0	53	57	8	42	20	-6,4
4	6		Sivathanujan, S			SRI	1913	8	0	53	56,5	8	43	20	24,2
5	3		Priyanshu, Barua			IND	1984	8	0	49,5	52,5	8	40	20	-2,2
6	9		Bandara, Dhanushka			SRI	1760	8	0	49	52,5	8	38	20	12,8
7	8	CM	Amarasinghe, A A C B			SRI	1804	7,5	0	49	53	7	38,5	20	10,6
8	14		De Silva, Osheen			SRI	1694	7,5	0	49	52	7	38,5	20	31,6
9	12	AIM	Madurawala, M G D S Shanuka	U15		SRI	1742	7	0	52	56,5	7	38	40	15,6
10	11		Bandara, L R D B	U15		SRI	1746	7	0	52	54,5	7	40	40	50,8