Grandmaster Swapnill S Dhopade of Maharashtra with an overall tally of eight points emerged as the Champion of the IIFL Wealth Mumbai International Open Chess Tournament 2016, and played at the Mount Litera School International, Bandra (East), Mumbai, here, on Friday.
(L to R) Surabhi Goel, Project Head – Mount Litera School International at Zee Learn, Shri Rishi Gupta, President, Mumbai Suburban Chess Association, Champion GM Swapnil Dhopade, D V Sundar, Vice President, FIDE, Shri Ronak Sheth, Sr.Vice President, Marketing, IIFL Group, Shri RShri Bharat Singh Chauhan, CEO, All India Chess Federation,
International Master Stany G.A. of Karnataka finished a close second with 7.5 points while Chandigarh’s Himal Gusain with 7 points was placed third. Top seed and GM-elect Shardul Garge of Mahrashtra could only manage a poor joint 4th place finish along with seven other players, all with 6.5 points each.
Swapnil for his fine efforts, in the Rs 7.5 lakhs cash prize fund 9-round event, was presented with the Champions Trophy and a handsome cash award of Rs 1.5 lakhs. Second-placed Stany pocketed the runner-up prize of Rs 1.2 lakhs while Gusain got the third-placed prize of Rs 1 lakh.
In the all-important final round, overnight leader Swapnil Dhopade playing with the white pieces played out a quick draw with fellow Maharashtra player Amardeep S Bartakke, in a quiet Queens Indian game that lasted 24 moves. The draw ensured Swapnil the pole position with 8 points.
The other two contenders, Stany and Himal also shared honours playing out a draw on the second board.
Meanwhile, the top seed Shardul (6.5) was unable to force a win against Ravi Teja S Gagare (6.5) and was forced to settle for a draw.
Results
(Round 9) IIFL Wealth Mumbai International Open: Swapnil S Dhopade (8) drew with Bartakke Amardeep S (6.5), Gusain Himal (7) drew with Stany G.A. (7.5), Ravi Teja S (6.5) drew with Shardul Gagare (6.5), Krishna Teja N (6.5) drew with Bharambe Bhavik C (6.5), Sharma Dinesh K (6) drew with Himanshu Sharma (6.5), Muthaiah AL (5.5) lost to Chakravarthi Reddy M (6.5), Navalgund Niranjan (6) drew with Matta Vinay Kumar (6), Parnali S Dharia (5.5) lost to Abhishek Das (6.5), Nitin S (6) bt Ojas Kulkarni (5), Adhithya S (6) bt Vikramaditya Kulkarni (5).
Final Placings : 1. Swapnil S Dhopade 8 points, 2. Stany G.A. 7.5 points, 3. Himal Gusain 7 points, 4-11. Gagare Shardul, Himanshu Sharma, Ravi Teja S, Abhishek Das, Bharambe Bhavik C, Chakravarthi Reddy M, Bartakke Amardeep S, Krishna Teja N all with 6.5 points.