NAGPUR’S SIDDHANT Gawai continued his splendid form by scoring 9th straight win in nine games and stayed on course of clinch the title of the 17th GH Raisoni Memorial International FIDE Rating Open Chess Tournament being organised by GH Raisoni Sport and Cultural Foundation and Kalpana Prakash Welfare Foundation. The tournament is recognised by Chess Association Nagpur, Maharashtra Chess Association, AICF and FIDE. IM Anwesh Upadhyaya is trailing behind the leader Gawai with 8 points. Three players -- Kolla Bhavan of Andhra Pradesh, Vaibhav Borse of Maharashtra and Sangharsh Aole of Maharashtra -- are still in race with 7.5 points to their credit. In the ninth round, Gawai, playing with black pieces, downed another Nagpur youngster Shaunak Badole. Both players played irregular opening moves and locked the centre position.

 

Badole tried to penetrate through kingside which was thwarted by Gawai with accurate moves. Gawai then gained upper hand in ending and registered win in 45 moves. On the second board, Anwesh employed an English opening setup against second seed Sauravh Kherdekar. Both players opened up in the opening itself however Sauravh found his king in mating net and resigned after 25 moves. In the tenth round, Gawai drew his game with Vaibhav Borse whereas IM Anwesh Upadhyaya won against Sangharsh Aole on second board to reduce Gawai’s lead to half a point at the time of sending this report. IA Ajinkya Pingle is the chief arbiter of the event and is being assisted by FA Sonal Tambi, FA Amit Tembhurne, FA Bharti Dhote, SNA Sham Agrawal, SNA Sagar Sakhare, SNA Prayas Ambade, Prathamesh Machave and Shishir Indurkar.