Prraneeth Vuppala triumphs at Fagernes Slow Blitz 2024

by Shahid Ahmed - 30/03/2024

GM Prraneeth Vuppala scored an unbeaten 6/7 to win Fagernes Slow Blitz 2024 Group A (>1800). He finished a half point ahead of the rest. FM Gunnar Lund (NOR) and IM Aksel Bu Kvaløy (NOR) scored 5.5/7 each. They secured second and third place respectively. 13-year-old Oda Skramstad (NOR) scored 6/7 to win Group B (<1800). Despite starting with a loss, she won her next six games in-a-row to finish clear first. FI Sushrutha Reddy, Kazim Yilmaz (NOR) and Amund Pihl Strand (NOR) scored 5/6 each. They secured second to fourth place respectively. The R Gang represented by GM Prraneeth Vuppala, IM Sidhant Mohapatra, IM Dushyant Sharma and IM Moksh Amit Doshi secured second place in Team talking chess. Photo: Anniken Vestby/Fagernes 2024

Sushrutha and The R Gang second in Group B and Team talking chess

GM Rinat Jumabayev (KAZ) is currently the sole leader 6/7 in GM group. He is closely followed by GM Frode Olav Olsen Urkedal (NOR) 5.5/7. A dozen players including five Indians - GM Surya Sekhar Ganguly, GM Krishnan Sasikiran, GM Abhimanyu Puranik, GM Raja Rithvik R and GM Pranav Anand are at 5/7 each.

Top 3 in Group A (L to R) - 3rd IM Aksel Bu Kvaløy (NOR) 5.5/7, 1st GM Prraneeth Vuppala 6/7 and 2nd FM Gunnar Lund (NOR) 5.5/7 | Photo: Anniken Vestby

A little over a fortnight ago, GM Prraneeth Vuppala finished third at Harpa Blitz 2024 part of Reykjavik Open in Reykjavik, Iceland.

GM Prraneeth Vuppala defeated the eventual runner-up, FM Gunnar Lund (NOR) in the second round | Photo: Anniken Vestby

GM Prraneeth Vuppala in action | Photo: Anniken Vestby

GM Prraneeth Vuppala scored an unbeaten 6/7 and finished a half point ahead of the field

13-year-old Oda Skramstad (NOR) must be applauded for winning the Group B (<1800) Blitz event convincingly by finishing a full point ahead of others. She also started the event with a loss and then won scored a double hat-trick of wins. It is not every day a female chess player wins an open/rating restricted blitz event.

Top 3 in Group B (L to R) - 3rd Kazim Yilmaz (NOR) 5/7, 1st Oda Skramstad (NOR) 6/7 and 2nd FI Sushrutha Reddy 5/7 | Photo: Anniken Vestby

Team talking chess

For those who are wondering what is team talking chess, the official site mentions - Teamtalkingchess is a highly entertaining and social Norwegian speciality in which rapid chess matches are played over six boards with no more than four players in each team! Within a team, players can communicate and swap games whenever they want.

Champion - Stavanger 8/8 | Photo: Tom Eriksen

Runner-up - The R Gang 6/8 | Photo: Tom Eriksen

L to R: IM Sidhant Mohapatra, GM Prraneeth Vuppala, IM Dushyant Sharma and IM Moksh Amit Doshi

Second Runner-up - 46.95 Sjokoladeplater 6/8 | Photo: Tom Eriksen

A total of 33 players including 2 GMs and 6 IMs took part from various countries across the world in Group A (>1800) of the Fagernes Slow Blitz event. The tournament was organized by IO IA Hans Olav Lahlum in cooperation with Sotra Sjakklubb on 29th March 2024 at Scandic Valdres hotel in Fagernes, Norway. The seven-round Swiss league tournament had a time control of 5 minutes + 3 seconds increment from move no. 1.

Final standings in Group A

Details

A total of 20 players took part from various countries across the world in Group B (<1800) of the Fagernes Slow Blitz event. The tournament was organized by IO IA Hans Olav Lahlum in cooperation with Sotra Sjakklubb on 29th March 2024 at Scandic Valdres hotel in Fagernes, Norway. The seven-round Swiss league tournament had a time control of 5 minutes + 3 seconds increment from move no. 1.