Subhayan Kundu becomes the latest International Master of India
Subhayan Kundu became the latest International Master of West Bengal and India on 17th August. He achieved the title when he defeated Vidya Bhushan Singh in Round 2 of 4th Atal Talen Hunt Rating Open 2024 in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand. The first IM-norm was scored at 5th Eka IIFL Investment Managers GM Tournament 2019-20. Almost three years later, he earned his second IM-norm at 59th National Senior Championship 2022 in New Delhi. A little over a year and a half later he secured his final IM-norm at Dini GM International Tournament 2024 in Sri Lanka. Subhayan did not slow down after becoming an IM. He continued playing tournaments, in fact he won the tournament where he fulfilled the final criteria to become an IM. His journey towards the GM title continues. Photo: Shahid Ahmed
Final IM-norm and 2400+ within a fortnight
"For my elder brother only, I came into chess. When I was 6.5-7 years old, my brother and father used to play at home. I used to see them. So one day, they were playing and I just came up on the board and suggested some of the moves. Eventually it turned out to be a good move. My father got really impressed and took me to my first chess academy - Calcutta Chess Academy." - IM Subhayan Kundu on how he started his journey in chess. Late Ranju Bagchi, IM Suvrajit Saha, IM Roktim Bandyopadhyay, Debasish Mukherjee, Santu Mondal and Rupankar Nath were some of the trainers he worked. He mentioned that without Mr. Bagchi's contribution to him in his childhood, he would not reach where he is today. India got a lot of International Masters in August. Subhayan is one of them.
First IM-norm: 5th Eka IIFL Investment Managers GM Tournament 2019-20
Subhayan scored his first IM-norm at 5th Eka IIFL Investment Managers GM Tournament 2019-20. He defeated GM Maxim Lugovskoy (RUS), then IM Van Huy Nguyen (VIE), drew with GM Cristhian Camilo Rios (COL) and GM Sandipan Chanda. He scored 5/9, performed at 2494 and gained 60.6 Elo rating points.
Lugovskoy - Subhayan, Round 3
GM Maxim Lugovskoy (2466) made a positional mistake 16.b3? Subhayan Kundu (2222) pounced on his chance 16...Na3! 17.Bxa3 Qxc3+ 18.Kf1 Qa5 and Black went on to win the game in a sharp battle.
Second IM-norm: 59th National Senior Championship 2022
Nearly three years later, Subhayan scored his second IM-norm at 59th National Championship 2022. He defeated then IM Sayantan Das, drew with GM Mitrabha Guha, GM Karthik Venkataraman, GM Deep Sengupta, GM Leon Luke Mendonca, GM Laxman R R, IM C R G Krishna, IM Anuj Shrivatri and IM Mohammad Nubairshah Shaikh. Subhayan scored 8/13 to earn his second IM-norm and also increased his Elo rating by 42 points.
Sayantan - Subhayan, Round 6
Then IM Sayantan Das (2475) should have traded the bishops right away to avoid future trouble. 29.Bb3 Re7 30.f3? Qa7 started making things difficult for White. 31.Kh1 Bxb1 32.Rxb1 Qf2 White is now positionally lost and it became just a matter of time when Subhayan Kundu (2319) won the game.
Third IM-norm: Dini GM International 2024
A little over a year and half later, Subhayan delivered a stellar performance by winning Dini GM International 2024 in Sri Lanka. His performance also earned him his final IM-norm and reach 2399 Elo rating. Subhayan defeated GM Mitrabha Guha, GM Deepan Chakkravarthy, drew with GM Peng Li Min (SUI), GM Boris Savchenko, GM Diptayan Ghosh, GM Kirill Stupak and GM Sayantan Das.
Subhayan - Mitrabha, Round 6
After missing out a win against GM Boris Savchenko (2470) in the fifth round, Subhayan Kundu (2349) played an exciting game against the reigning Commonwealth champion, GM Mitrabha Guha (2545). In the above position, Black needed to find a computer-like defense 24...Qh7 25.Rxg5 Bd7 and Black would have been fine. Instead, 24...gxh4?? invited 25.Ne4!+- White is opening more files dxe4 26.Rd1 Kf7 27.Qc5 Ke8 28.Qd4 Kf7 29.Qb6 Bd7 30.Rxd7+ Ke8 31.Rd1 Rb8 32.Qd4 would have ended things sooner. 32.Kh1 delayed the win for White.
Live rating 2400+ : 4th Atal Talent Hunt Rating Open 2024
Subhayan crossed 2400 in the live rating within a fortnight after winning Dini GM, when he defeated Vidya Bhushan Singh in Round 2. Subhayan won the tournament scoring 7.5/8 and got his rating 2403 published in September FIDE Rating list. This tournament triumph will be mentioned in detail in a separate report.
Subhayan's best achievements
Subhayan Kundu has earned a lot of accolades in his chess career so far. Here are the best ones:
• Champion - Dini GM International 2024
• Champion - 4th Atal Talent Hunt Rating Open 2024
• Champion - Hetauda Cup Asian Open 2023
• Champion - V Sant Adria Open 2023
• Champion - Madaripur Festival Rapid and Blitz Rating Open 2023
• Champion - 3rd DD-DBCA Rating Open 2022
• Champion - Third Saturday Rapid 129 - Novi Sad 2022
• Champion - West Bengal State Senior Rating 2022
• Champion - West Bengal State Rapid Rating 2022
• Champion - North 24 Parganas District Championship Open 2024
• Champion for Adamas University - East Zone Inter University Men 2023-24
• Champion for Adamas University - East Zone Inter University Men 2021
• Champion for Leonien Chess Club - Marcel 1st Division League 2019
• Champion for Kolkata city team - 19th National Cities Championship 2018
• Champion for DPS North Kolkata - 12th Chessmate Inter-School Rapid Rating Team 2018
• Champion for DPS North Kolkata - DPS National Championship Open 2018
• Champion for DPS North Kolkata - CBSE National Team Under-17 Open 2017
• Champion for DPS North Kolkata - CBSE Far East Zone Under-17 Open 2017
• Champion for DPS North Kolkata - All India Inter DPS Championship 2016
• Champion - 39th West Bengal State Sub-Junior (Under-15) Open 2016
• Runner-up - 44th Olympiad Curtain Raiser Rapid Rating Open 2022
• Runner-up - 24th State Under-11 Boys 2012
• Second Runner-up for Kolkata, India - Asian Cities Team Championship 2019
• Second Runner-up - 23rd State Under-11 Open 2011
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