Jose Eduardo Martinez wins KCA 6th Seshamma Memorial Open Blitz 2020
Kings' Chess Academy - Hyderabad presents 6th Seshamma Memorial Online Blitz Open took place on 30th May. What was so unique about the event? The tournament had no entry fee. GM Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara scored 9.0/10 to win the tournament. He won ₹10000 cash prize for his efforts. Three players finished at 8.5/10. GM Jakhongir Vakhidov, IM Terry Renato and GM D Gukesh finished with 8.5/10. They were placed second, third and fourth respectively according to their tie-break scores. Total 253 players participated including 11 GMs, 12 IMs and 4 WIMs from 13 countries across the world including India. Photo: Niklesh Jain
Peru dominates the podium positions
For the first time in ChessBase India Online Blitz history, no Indian players made a podium finish which only speaks how strong the competition has become. GM Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara of Peru scored 9.0/10 to win Kings' Chess Academy presents 6th Seshamma Memorial Online Blitz Open 2020. In a dramatic final round, Martinez defeated the eventual runner-up GM Jakhongir Vakhidov of Uzbekistan in the final round to win the tournament. Vakhidov had a lot of opportunities to make a draw and become the champion, however he did not know for sure if a draw will be enough to win the championship, thus he tried too hard and eventually lost. Eduardo's compatriot IM Renato Terry of Peru made his second consecutive podium finish by scoring 8.5/10 and finishing third on tie-breaks. GM Gukesh D was the third player who also finished with 8.5/10 and secured fourth position. Eduardo got richer by ₹10000, while Vakhidov won ₹5000 and Terry received ₹2500 cash prize.
The tournament witnessed the total participation of 253 players from India, Algeria, Argentina, Bangladesh, Chile, Ireland, Oman, Peru, Philippines, Singapore, Ukraine, USA and Uzbekistan including 11 GMs, 12 IMs and 4 WIMs from all over the world, organized by Kings' Chess Academy Hyderabad. The tournament had no entry fee.
Johncking had a lot of lives
In Round 2, Js3131 (GM Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara) did not have an easy pairing as he had to overcome the challenge of Johncking (IM Harshit Raja). The Queen-Bishop endgame lasted for 42 moves and after a roller coaster ride of 89 moves, eventually Js3131 managed to score a victory, but Jon Snow I mean Johncking did not go down without a fight.
Js3131 - Johncking, Round 2
The game continued with 56.Kb4. What was the better continuation for white?
Find out the simple tactics here for white. Of course both players were in incredible time scramble which caused white to make the premove of 65.Qc4 which cost him the game.
Skkeyan had Jose's number
The only loss Js3131 (GM Jose Eduuardo Martinez Alcantara) suffered in the entire tournament was against former National Sub-Junior (Under-15) Open Champion Skkeyan (FM Ajay Karthikeyan S). Despite Ajay having an early space advantage and being better for the most of the game, his opponent equalized in the Queen-Bishop vs. Queen-Knight endgame, until he made a blunder.
Skkeyan - Js3131, Round 3
Can you find out why 57...Qf5 is a blunder and what he should have played instead?
Twist of Fate
As mentioned earlier, Uzbektiger95 (GM Jakhongir Vakhidov of Uzbekistan) was ahead by a half point and he was unsure if a draw will be enough to win the tournament. After getting his draw offer turned down, Uzbektiger pushed for an advantage and then he declined Js3131's (GM Jose Eduardo Martinez of Peru) draw offer.
Uzbektiger95 - Js3131, Round 10
Well when you get a position like this, you want to go for a win right? The game continued with 27.Bxe4 but there was a better continuation. Try to find it.
An interesting draw
In the sixth round, Uzbektiger95 (GM Jakhongir Vakhidov) was up against Gk06 (GM Gukesh D). Despite getting a winning position in the endgame, Uzbektiger95 missed a few good opportunities and the game eventually ended up in a draw.
Uzbektiger95 - Gk06, Round 6
It is evident that white is winning here, but what is the correct continuation for white here?
An emphatic victory
Uzbektiger95 (GM Jakhongir Vakhidov) scored an emphatic victory against TerryR (IM Terry Renato of Peru) in the penultimate round.
A great win against Gukesh
Despite being in difficult position against Gk06 (GM D Gukesh), TerryR (IM Terry Renato) did not break down, instead of fought back and clinched a victory eventually.
Final Standings:
Main Prize winners (Top 20)
| Rank | Name | Score | Prize money |
| 1 | GM Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara | 9 | ₹10000 |
| 2 | GM Jakhongir Vokhidov | 8.5 | ₹5000 |
| 3 | IM Terry Renato | 8.5 | ₹2500 |
| 4 | GM D Gukesh | 8.5 | ₹2000 |
| 5 | GM Bilel Bellahcene | 8 | ₹1000 |
| 6 | Aditya S Samant | 8 | ₹900 |
| 7 | IM Rajesh VAV | 7.5 | ₹800 |
| 8 | GM Laxman R R | 7.5 | ₹700 |
| 9 | GM Dusan Popovic | 7.5 | ₹600 |
| 10 | FM Ajay Karthikeyan | 7.5 | ₹500 |
| 11 | IM Harshit Raja | 7.5 | ₹500 |
| 12 | IM Neelash Saha | 7.5 | ₹500 |
| 13 | IM Anuj Shrivatri | 7.5 | ₹500 |
| 14 | Kaustuv Kundu | 7.5 | ₹500 |
| 15 | GM Raunak Sadhwani | 7.5 | ₹500 |
| 16 | IM Aleksei Kireev | 7 | ₹500 |
| 17 | FM R Ashwath | 7 | ₹500 |
| 18 | CM Rajarishi Keerthi | 7 | ₹500 |
| 19 | GM Alan Pichot | 7 | ₹500 |
| 20 | Rohit S | 7 | ₹500 |
Best Kings' Chess Academy student
| 1 | Hari Charan Sai Kalluri | 2.5 | ₹500 |
Lucky prizes
| 30 | Ojas Kulkarni | 7 | ₹500 |
| 40 | WIM Trisha Kanyamarala | 6.5 | ₹500 |
| 50 | CM Samrug Narayanan | 6 | ₹500 |
| 60 | Arhan Chethan Anand | 6 | ₹500 |
| 70 | Sahil Dhawan | 6 | ₹500 |
| 80 | Shiv Shome | 5.5 | ₹500 |
| 90 | Akhilesh Nagare | 5.5 | ₹500 |
| 100 | Srithan Saypuri | 5 | ₹500 |
| 110 | Nirnay Garg | 5 | ₹500 |
Feedback of the participants
Harsh Pandit
It was great!
Rajan Gonde
Good job team, keep it up
Arnav Maheshwari
The tournament was very well conducted and I did not have much difficulties as this was my first time playing a tournament in playchess.
Harish Subramaniam
It was a great tournament. We request you to hold more such events, especially with 5 min time controls.
Ameya Nigudkar
It was great!
Akshay Borgaonkar
Yes, I do have fun and like the ChessBase India tournaments, but it would be better if there would be a 1 or 2 second increment.
Aneesh Adiga
The tournament was very good. I enjoyed very much. One suggestion, can you make tournaments with categories like 1000-1300, 1300 to 1600 like this.
Sangharsh Soni
I really enjoyed sir, first time played online tournament in lappy 🤗
Sristhi Bhagwani
It was great!
Piyush Bothra
It was a good tournament. There should be some online tournaments based on rating too. When you are a low rated player the only pleasure you can get is playing against an IM or GM.
Sinthia Sarkar, former Commonwealth U-10 girls Silver medalist
I, Sinthia Sarkar, have enjoyed too much playing this tournament by chess base India. I would be highly grateful if such tournament be held in future also.
Links
Kings' Chess Academy - Official site, facebook
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₹30000 Online Blitz Open with no entry fee by Y V K Chakravarthy in collaboration with KCA
@ 07/07/2020 by Shahid Ahmed (en) |
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Rs.34,000 Online Blitz event with no entry fee by Kings' Chess Academy
@ 25/05/2020 by Shahid Ahmed (en) |