Tabatabaei wins Al Ain Spring Chess Festival Blitz 2023, Arjun Erigaisi second and Raunak third
GM Arjun Erigaisi does not plan on slowing down. After winning 6th Sharjah Masters, he went to Al Ain to play in the Al Ain Spring Chess Festival Blitz 2023. Iran no.2 GM M Amin Tabatabaei scored 8.5/11 to finish first. His sole loss of the event was against the eventual second runner-up, GM Raunak Sadhwani. Five players - GM Arjun Erigaisi, Raunak, GM Adham Fawzy (EGY), GM Parham Maghsoodloo (IRI) and GM Viorel Iordachescu (MDA) scored 8/11 each. They were placed second to fifth according to tie-breaks. All top ten finishers lost at least one game each. The total prize fund of the tournament was 20000 AED (approx. ₹449640). The top three prizes were 5000 + trophy, 4000 and 3000 AED along with a medal each respectively. Arjun and Raunak won ₹89928 and ₹67446 approx. The one-day blitz rating tournament was organized by Al-Ain Chess Club & Mind Games. Photo: Aditya Sur Roy
Only GMs in top ten
Apart from Arjun and Raunak, GM S L Narayanan and GM Leon Luke Mendonca are the only two other Indians to make a top ten finish. They scored 7.5/11 and 7/11 each to secure seventh and eighth place respectively.
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A total of 50 players including 12 GMs, an IM and a WIM participated from 18 countries across the world. The one-day nine-round Swiss league Blitz Rating tournament was organized by Al-Ain Chess Club & Mind Games at Hili Rotana Hotel in Al Ain, UAE on 26th May 2023. The time control for the event was 3 minutes + 2 seconds increment from move no.1.
Final standings
Rk. | SNo | Name | FED | Rtg | Pts. | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 | |
1 | 5 | GM | Tabatabaei, M. Amin | IRI | 2575 | 8,5 | 0 | 76 | 71 |
2 | 1 | GM | Erigaisi, Arjun | IND | 2719 | 8 | 0 | 77,5 | 71,5 |
3 | 4 | GM | Sadhwani, Raunak | IND | 2631 | 8 | 0 | 76,5 | 71,5 |
4 | 9 | GM | Fawzy, Adham | EGY | 2539 | 8 | 0 | 76 | 71 |
5 | 3 | GM | Maghsoodloo, Parham | IRI | 2655 | 8 | 0 | 75,5 | 71 |
6 | 8 | GM | Iordachescu, Viorel | MDA | 2552 | 8 | 0 | 74,5 | 70 |
7 | 7 | GM | Narayanan.S.L, | IND | 2563 | 7,5 | 0 | 73 | 68,5 |
8 | 10 | GM | Mendonca, Leon Luke | IND | 2464 | 7 | 0 | 78 | 73 |
9 | 2 | GM | Niemann, Hans Moke | USA | 2708 | 7 | 0 | 76,5 | 71,5 |
10 | 11 | GM | Kuybokarov, Temur | AUS | 2458 | 7 | 0 | 73 | 69 |