Raunak is second best in the World
   Date :17-Oct-2023

Raunak is second best  
 
 
 
By Anupam Soni
GRANDMASTER Raunak Sadhwani added another feather to his hat by securing a Silver medal in World Junior Blitz Chess Championship that concluded at Sardinia in Italy on Monday. After becoming world junior champion in Rapid category last week, city’s Raunak, all of seventeen, would have become a world junior champion in Blitz event too but for a single loss in the 11-round championship. Raunak recorded seven wins and split point in three games. His only loss came against the eventual champion Azerbaijan’s GM Mahammad Muradli in the sixth round when the city player played with dark coloured pieces. Raunak collected 8.5 points from 11 rounds to finish second behind Muradli who secured 9.5 points.
 
Raunak’s seven victories came against Hungary’s FM Aron Pasti, IM Samuel-Timotei Ghimpu of Romania, Armenia’s FM Robert Piliposyan, IM Konstantin Peyrer of Austria, GM Mamikon Gharibyan of Armenia, GM Arseniy Nesterov of Russia playing under International Chess Federation’s banner and IM Tobias Koelle of Germany. Rapid games are usually played with a 20 or 25 minutes each clock time for the whole game with probably 10 seconds increment for each move. The game usually ends in an hour. Blitz games have 5 min or 3 min for each player for the game and 2–5 sec increment per move. A blitz game finishes within 15 minutes usually.
 
Raunak was delighted with his double podium finishes in the prestigious event. “I am happy that I have earned a graceful gold in Rapid and a bright silver in Blitz. These precious medals are dedicated to my country and my parents,
who are my strongest support system. Podium finish in both the formats is quite satisfactory. Overall happy that I was able to make the country proud. Feeling of the Indian national anthem being played at the closing ceremony was out of the world. Going back home with some beautiful memories to cherish,” said an elated Raunak.