National Challengers 04-09: Ravi Teja leads with 7.5/09

by Priyadarshan Banjan - 16/07/2016

The National Challengers Championship 2016 opened at the Amity University in Noida, Delhi, as a non-rated event, for the first time in its 54-year-history. The tournament was expected to attract the stronger players into the tournament, now that there is no possibility for them to lose rating. But there was no change in the trend. A handful of the higher seeds is having a tough time at the 2016 edition of the Challengers. The tournament has been full of surprise results. IM Ravi Teja leads the tourney with 7.5/11. An illustrated report.

National Challengers 04-09: Ravi Teja leads with 7.5/09

In a day and age where even the under seven national championship tournament of India is a rated tourney, the premier National Challengers Championship 2016 opened at the Amity University in Noida, Delhi, as a non-rated event, for the first time in its 54-year-history. The tournament was expected to attract the stronger players into the tournament, now that there is no possibility for them to lose rating. But there was no change in the trend.

A total of 165 players including 8 Grandmasters, 19 International Masters, and 1 WGM are participating in this event. The top nine finishers of this championship will qualify for forthcoming National Premier Tournament to be held later this year.

A handful of the higher seeds is having a tough time at the 2016 edition of the Challengers. GM Aravindh Chithambaram, for example, was hit by two consecutive losses. Meanwhile, Hemal Thanki (2167), who had lost to a player roughly five-hundred points below in the first round, defeated GM Shardul Gagare (2486) in the ninth and is now placed fifth with 6.5/9!

Sai Vishwesh.C (2281)

The fourth round saw a twist in the fate of several higher seeds. Seventeen-year-old Sai Vishwesh.C (2281) scored an upset win over second seed GM Sunilduth Lyna Narayanan (2515) in the 4th round of the National Challengers Chess Championship.

[Event "54th National Challengers Chess Champion"] [Site "Amity University, Sector-125, "] [Date "2016.07.11"] [Round "4.2"] [White "Sai, Vishwesh.C"] [Black "Sunilduth Lyna, Narayanan"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B21"] [WhiteElo "2281"] [BlackElo "2515"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "r3k2r/1b2qppp/p3p1n1/1pb1N3/8/1BN5/PP2QPPP/2RR2K1 b kq - 0 16"] [PlyCount "38"] [EventDate "2016.07.09"] [EventRounds "13"] [EventCountry "IND"] 16... Bxf2+ {Black had other options at his disposal, for example simply ... Rc8, but he complicates the position.} 17. Qxf2 (17. Kxf2 Qc5+ 18. Qe3 Qxe3+ 19. Kxe3 Nxe5 $19) 17... Nxe5 18. Qg3 f6 19. Bxe6 Qxe6 20. Qxg7 Qb6+ 21. Kh1 Rf8 22. Nd5 Bxd5 23. Rxd5 $17 {Black is two pawns up...} Rd8 {...but now White has a nice resource.} (23... Qe6 $1 {is correct.}) 24. Rxe5+ $1 fxe5 25. Qxe5+ Kd7 26. Qg7+ Ke6 (26... Ke8 27. Re1+ $18) (26... Kd6 27. Qh6+ $18) 27. Re1+ Kd6 $11 (27... Kd5 $11) 28. Qe7+ Kc6 29. Rc1+ Kd5 30. Rd1+ Kc6 31. Rc1+ Kd5 32. Rd1+ {Here, the Narayanan should have agreed for the repetition. But} Kc4 $4 { leads to a forced mate!} 33. Qe4+ Rd4 34. Rc1+ Kb4 35. a3+ $18 {A sad end to the game for the young grandmaster.} 1-0

Sai's co-leader GM Tejas Bakre was the next casualty.

His win over GM Tejas Bakre (2453) made Sai Vishwesh the sole leader with a perfect score of 5.0/5 points.

Round 06: GM R.R. Laxman (2389) grabbed the sole lead after defeating Sai Vishwesh.C (2281).

Laxman now led the tournament with 5.5/6 points, followed by five players with 5.0/5 points.

[Event "Amity Unitersity 54th National Challeng"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.07.12"] [Round "6"] [White "Laxman, R.R."] [Black "Sai Vishwesh.C"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A43"] [WhiteElo "2389"] [BlackElo "2281"] [PlyCount "93"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [SourceDate "2003.06.08"] [TimeControl "5400+30"] 1. d4 c5 2. d5 b5 3. e4 a6 4. a4 b4 5. Nd2 a5 6. e5 Ba6 7. Bxa6 Nxa6 8. Nc4 Nc7 9. Bg5 Qb8 10. Qf3 Ra6 11. O-O-O f6 12. Bh4 fxe5 13. Qh5+ g6 14. Qxe5 Nf6 15. d6 Ne6 16. Bxf6 exf6 17. Qxf6 Rg8 18. Qh4 b3 19. c3 Rg7 20. Nf3 Bxd6 21. Rhe1 Be7 22. Qe4 Qf4+ 23. Qxf4 Nxf4 24. g3 Nh3 25. Nd6+ Kd8 26. Ne4 Rf7 27. Ne5 Rf5 28. f4 Rxe5 29. fxe5 Ng5 30. Nd6 Nf3 31. Re2 Ng5 32. h4 Ne6 33. Re4 Ng7 34. Rc4 Ne6 35. Nb5 Ng7 36. Re4 Nf5 37. e6 d6 38. Rd3 Rc6 39. c4 Bf6 40. Rxb3 Be5 41. g4 Ng7 42. Na7 Rc7 43. Rb8+ Ke7 44. Nb5 Rc6 45. Rb7+ Kf8 46. e7+ Ke8 47. Nc3 1-0

In the seventh round, IM Ravi Teja came into the picture. Ravi Teja defeated GM R.R. Laxman to move to 6.0/7.

But he was not alone. Sai made a quick comeback to defeat FM Mehar Chinna Reddy (2373) in just 16 moves! Now, he and Ravi Teja led with 6.0/7.

[Event "54th National Challengers Chess Champion"] [Site "Amity University, Sector-125, "] [Date "2016.07.13"] [Round "7.3"] [White "Sai, Vishwesh.C"] [Black "Mehar, Chinna Reddy C.H"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B22"] [WhiteElo "2281"] [BlackElo "2373"] [PlyCount "31"] [EventDate "2016.07.09"] [EventRounds "13"] [EventCountry "IND"] 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Bc4 (6. cxd4 {is also possible.}) 6... Nb6 7. Bb3 d5 8. exd6 Qxd6 9. O-O Be6 10. Bxe6 Qxe6 11. cxd4 Qd7 12. Nc3 e6 13. Be3 Bb4 14. Ne4 O-O 15. Ne5 {the game has played out faitly innocuously, until now. Black makes one careless move and is ensnarled.} Qd5 $4 (15... Qe8 $11) 16. Nf6+ $1 {Finito.} 1-0

Round 08: Ravi Teja took on Sai Vishwesh, defeated him, grabbing the sole lead.

The battle between the leaders ended in Ravi's favor after Sai made a blunder on move 17. With this win, Ravi was a full point ahead in the tournament with 7.0/9, followed by an array of players with 6.0/9 points.

[Event "54th National Challengers Chess Champion"] [Site "Amity University, Sector-125, "] [Date "2016.07.14"] [Round "8.1"] [White "Ravi, Teja S"] [Black "Sai, Vishwesh.C"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D90"] [WhiteElo "2387"] [BlackElo "2281"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "2rr2k1/4ppbp/pqb2np1/npNp4/3P4/1PNBP2P/P3QPPB/2R2RK1 b - - 0 17"] [PlyCount "14"] [EventDate "2016.07.09"] [EventRounds "13"] [EventCountry "IND"] {Black just played} 17... Nd7 {and White jumped at the opportunity to grab a pawn.} 18. Nxd5 $1 Bxd5 19. Nxd7 Qb7 20. Nc5 Rxc5 21. Rxc5 Bxg2 22. Rfc1 Nc6 ( 22... Bxh3 23. f3 $18) 23. Qg4 $18 Bxd4 24. Qxg2 1-0

Sai Vishwesh lost his second consecutive game in the ninth round, when he lost to GM Sriram Jha, who moved to 7.0/9, for tied second place.

[Event "Amity Unitersity 54th National Challeng"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.07.15"] [Round "9"] [White "Sai Vishwesh.C"] [Black "Sriram, Jha"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C95"] [WhiteElo "2281"] [BlackElo "2422"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "2r3k1/1b1n1p1p/3p1qpQ/p2Pp3/1p2P1N1/1P4NP/P4PP1/4R1K1 b - - 0 29"] [PlyCount "17"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [SourceDate "2003.06.08"] [TimeControl "5400+30"] 29... Qf4 30. Qh4 h5 {Black continues actively.} 31. Qe7 (31. Nxh5 $1 gxh5 32. g3 Qd2 33. Rf1 hxg4 34. Qxg4+ Kh8 35. Qh4+ Kg8 36. Qg4+ Kf8 37. Qxd7 Qh6 38. Qxb7 Qxh3 39. Re1 Kg7 $11) 31... hxg4 32. Qxd7 Rc2 33. Kh2 (33. Re2 Rc1+ 34. Kh2 Ba6 $19) (33. Rf1 Ba6 $19) 33... gxh3 34. Qxb7 Qxf2 35. Rg1 Rc1 36. Qb8+ Kg7 37. Qxd6 Rxg1 0-1

IM Ravi Teja S has maintained the sole lead after drawing his ninth round game against IM Nitin S.

Ravi leads the tournament with 7.5/9. Half-a-point behind are GM Sriram Jha and GM S L Narayanan with 7.0/9 points each.

Highlights:

[Event "54th National Challengers Chess Champion"] [Site "Amity University, Sector-125, "] [Date "2016.07.11"] [Round "4.12"] [White "Sidhant, Mohapatra"] [Black "Nitin, S."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B51"] [WhiteElo "2259"] [BlackElo "2398"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "1r4k1/3nqpbp/b5p1/4p1Nn/1pN1P3/1P4P1/1B1Q1P1P/2R2BK1 w - - 0 24"] [PlyCount "13"] [EventDate "2016.07.09"] [EventRounds "13"] [EventCountry "IND"] {[%csl Ga6] Ba6 is undefended and White takes full advantage of the same.} 24. Nxf7 {There may be other ways, but this is the most pleasing.} Qxf7 (24... Kxf7 25. Nd6+) 25. Nd6 Qxb3 (25... Bh6 26. Qxh6 Qe6 $18) 26. Bxa6 $18 {Material is equal but White is just winning.} Qf3 27. Bc4+ Kf8 28. Qd5 Qf6 29. f4 Nb6 30. Qg8+ 1-0

[Event "54th National Challengers Chess Champion"] [Site "Amity University, Sector-125, "] [Date "2016.07.12"] [Round "6.12"] [White "Sriram, Jha"] [Black "Gokhale, Chandrashekhar"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A54"] [WhiteElo "2422"] [BlackElo "2212"] [PlyCount "16"] [EventDate "2016.07.09"] [EventRounds "13"] [EventCountry "IND"] 1. d4 d6 2. c4 Nd7 3. Nc3 e5 4. Nf3 Ngf6 5. Bg5 {Arguably, a very innocent position. But black blunders now.} g6 $4 {Inexplicable.} 6. dxe5 (6. Nxe5 $1 { is a cute move that works as well.} dxe5 7. dxe5 Be7 8. exf6 Bxf6 9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. e3 $16) 6... dxe5 7. Nxe5 $1 {simply winning a pawn.} Bg7 (7... Nxe5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Bxf6+ $18) 8. Nxd7 Bxd7 {and White converted without difficulties.} 1-0

[Event "54th National Challengers Chess Champion"] [Site "Amity University, Sector-125, "] [Date "2016.07.13"] [Round "7.17"] [White "Akshat, Khamparia"] [Black "Tiwari, Arjun"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A48"] [WhiteElo "2363"] [BlackElo "2155"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "2q1r1k1/1bp2pb1/1p3npp/4p3/1PN1Pn1B/2P5/2QN1PPP/R4BK1 b - - 0 20"] [PlyCount "11"] [EventDate "2016.07.09"] [EventRounds "13"] [EventCountry "IND"] 20... Nxe4 $1 21. Nxe4 Qg4 22. Bg3 $2 (22. Qa4 $1 Nh3+ 23. Kh1 Ra8 24. Qxa8+ Bxa8 25. Rxa8+ Kh7 26. Nf6+ Bxf6 27. Bxf6 Nxf2+ 28. Kg1 Nh3+ $11) 22... Bxe4 23. Qa4 (23. Qd2 $15) 23... Ra8 24. Qxa8+ Bxa8 25. Rxa8+ Kh7 $19 {and Black went on to win.} 0-1

[Event "Amity Unitersity 54th National Challeng"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.07.15"] [Round "9"] [White "Kunte, Abhijit"] [Black "Tiwari, Arjun"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A56"] [WhiteElo "2495"] [BlackElo "2155"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "r2q1rn1/1p1b1pk1/3p2p1/p1pPb1Pp/PnP1PN1P/2N1B3/1P2Q3/1BK3RR w - - 0 22"] [PlyCount "31"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [SourceDate "2003.06.08"] [TimeControl "5400+30"] 22. Nxh5+ $1 gxh5 23. Qxh5 Qe8 24. Qd1 (24. Bd2 Ra6 25. Nb5 Bxb5 26. axb5 Ra8 27. Rg2 a4 28. Rhg1 Ne7 29. g6 $18) 24... Ne7 25. h5 Rh8 26. Qf3 Qg8 27. Bf4 Ra6 28. Qg3 Qb8 29. g6 fxg6 30. hxg6 Rxh1 31. Rxh1 Nxg6 32. Bh6+ Kh7 33. Bf8+ Kg8 34. Qxg6+ Kxf8 35. Rf1+ Ke7 36. Qg5+ Ke8 37. Qg8+ 1-0

[Event "Amity Unitersity 54th National Challeng"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.07.15"] [Round "9"] [White "Ramnath Bhuvanesh.R"] [Black "Sunilduth Lyna, Narayanan"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B51"] [WhiteElo "2307"] [BlackElo "2515"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "3b1rk1/1b1n1pp1/p3qn1p/1p2p3/4P2B/1N1B4/PP1NQPPP/2R3K1 w - - 0 21"] [PlyCount "11"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [SourceDate "2003.06.08"] [TimeControl "5400+30"] 21. f3 Nxe4 $1 22. Bxe4 Bxh4 23. Bxb7 Qb6+ {the point.} 24. Kf1 Qxb7 25. Qe4 Qxe4 26. Nxe4 {Black is a pawn ahead and won soon enough.} 0-1

Pairings for Round 10:

Bo.	No.		Name	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Name	Rtg	No.
1	9	GM	Sriram Jha	2422	7		7½	IM	Ravi Teja S.	2387	14
2	7	GM	Bakre Tejas	2453	6½		7	GM	Sunilduth Lyna Narayanan	2515	2
3	21	IM	Mishra Neeraj-Kumar	2328	6½		6½	GM	Kunte Abhijit	2495	4
4	27	IM	Kulkarni Vikramaditya	2294	6½		6½		Gusain Himal	2453	8
5	34		Dhulipalla Bala Chandra Prasad	2259	6½		6½	FM	Praneeth Surya K	2413	10
6	31		Sahoo Utkal Ranjan	2265	6½		6½	IM	Nitin S.	2398	12
7	13	GM	Laxman R.R.	2389	6½		6½		Thanki Hemal Karsanji	2167	43
8	15	IM	Abhishek Kelkar	2380	6½		6½	WGM	Gomes Mary Ann	2301	25
9	20	IM	Rajesh V A V	2335	6½		6½		Sidhant Mohapatra	2259	35
10	1	GM	Aravindh Chithambaram Vr.	2543	6		6	IM	Sangma Rahul	2307	24

Check the complete pairings here.

Games in PGN