Srihari scores his final IM-norm, reaches 2400 and becomes an IM

Srihari L of Pondicherry won the 17th Tamil Nadu IM-norm Closed Circuit Chess Tournament with a score of 8/9. IM Anton Sitnikov (UKR) and Sai Vishwesh C of Chennai scored 5.5 points each, but better tie-break helped Sitnikov finish at second place, Sai Vishwesh got third place. The tournament was organised by Chettinadu Public School and Sivagangai District Chess Association at Chettinadu Public School premises. from 6th to 11th February 2024.

The winner Srihari L with the trophy

17th IM Circuit Tournament winner Srihari L receiving the trophy and the prize money from the Chief Guest - Mr. S P Kumaresan, Chairman, Chettinadu Public School, Managiri, Karaikudi

17th IM Circuit Tournament Prize winners along with the Chief Guest Mr. S P Kumaresan, Chairman, Chettinadu Public School, Managiri, Karaikudi along with the organizers

Mrs. Usha Kumari, Principal, Chettinadu Public School, making the inaugural first move

The tournament was inaugurated by Mrs. Usha Kumari, Principal, Chettinadu Public School, Karaikudi in the presence of Mr. M Ephrame, Vice President, Tamil Nadu State Chess Association, Mr. Vijayaraghavan, Vice President, Tamil Nadu State Chess Association, Mr. Kannan, Joint Secretary, Tamil Nadu State Chess Association and Mrs. Prema Chithra, Vice Principal, Chettinadu Public School.

 

Mr. S P Kumaresan, Chairman, Chettinadu Public School, Managiri, Karaikudi, distributed the prizes to the winners.

Chief Guest - Mrs. Usha Kumari, Principal, Chettinadu Public School along with the organizers, arbiters and the players

Players, arbiters and volunteers

Chief Arbiter, Ammineni Uday Kumar, celebrated his 27th birthday on 8th February

GM Shyam Sundar M inaugurated the third round

GM Shyam Sundar M being felicitated by Principal Mrs. Usha Kumari

Grandmaster Pranesh M inaugurating Round 10

Grandmaster Pranesh M was felicitated by Principal Mrs.Usha Kumari

IM Olivier Touzane (FRA) enjoying the game on a big chess board with Sivagangai District Association office bearers at the hotel reception

French IMs Olivier Touzane and Sevan Buscara played a simul with the Chettinadu Public School students

IM Sevan Buscara (FRA) failed to defend his king from the attack launched Srihari L, instead, he went for a pawn hunt, which cost him the game

Srihari L scored an unbeaten 8/9, performed at 2584, gained 40.2 Elo rating points en route his second IM-norm

Knight out post is always good in chess! IM Anton Sitnikov’s (UKR) c5-knight outpost won a pawn and the game against IM Olivier Touzane (FRA)

Lokesh did not handle rook endgame correctly against IM Sevan Buscara (FRA) due to time pressure

IM Olivier Touzane's (FRA) king was on the verge of getting checkmated on Sai Vishwesh's territory

Srihari overcomes overprotection by IM Olivier Touzane (FRA)

Srihari converted material advantage into positional advantage against Sai Vishwesh C

The thematic exchange sacrifice for better development by Vrashank against Hemanth Raam

IM David Gochelashvili (RUS) blundered when his opponent Vrashank Chouhan was in time trouble.

IM Anton Sitnikov (UKR) knew when he should accept the gift offered by Vrashank Chouhan

IM Anton Sitnikov won the title in 15th & 16th IM-norm Closed Circuit tournaments at Tirunelveli and Nagercoil (Kanyakumari) consecutively but failed to capitalize here. The Ukraine IM Anton informed that his Russian girlfriend Evgeniya Zakharova helped him to prepare a lot during the Tirunelveli and Nagercoil tournaments and got rewarded. Further he added that he had to sacrifice a wonderful site seeing program in Kanyakumari because of his chess preparation while other players enjoyed a lot. Since she was busy with her work, she couldn’t help him during the 17th Karaikudi tournament. Moreover, he added that she is the one who is motivating him in chess. Evgeniya is an 1882 Elo rated player from Russia who is behind Anton's success. Anton too helped her a lot during IPCA world championship 2023.

Evgeniya Zakharova

Replay all games

Final standings

Rk.SNoNameFEDRtgPts. TB1  TB2  TB3 
14Srihari, LIND23608032,257
21IMSitnikov, AntonUKR23625,50,523,752
33Sai, Vishwesh.CIND22015,50,519,504
45IMSai Agni Jeevitesh, JIND230950,519,503
59Vrashank, ChouhanIND217650,519,004
66Lokesh, N.IND22174016,752
77IMBuscara, SevanFRA22563,50,513,751
810IMGochelashvili, DavidRUS22253,50,513,002
92IMTouzane, OlivierFRA20843010,502
108Hemanth, RaamIND2268209,000

Details

About the Author

M Ephrame is a Category A level International Arbiter, FIDE Instructor and Vice President of Tamil Nadu State Chess Association. He was also the Tournament Coordinator for the 17th Tamil Nadu IM-norm Closed Circuit Chess Tournament 2024.

 

The report was edited by Shahid Ahmed