Shyam Sundar wins XXV Montcada Open, Iniyan scores a GM norm!
Indian players have always loved playing in the Catalan circuit tournaments and with each passing year, they seem to better their previous year’s performance. At the Montcada Open this year, the Indian Posse dominated the field. While GM Shyam Sundar won the title prize at the event, International Master P. Iniyan bagged the third spot. In this article, we’ll not only talk about some glorious performances by Indians but also about what the players do between their rounds; how this experience in a foreign land has taught them to be self-sufficient; and how, with its fantastic playing conditions, the city of Barcelona attracts Indian players.
Shyam Sundar wins XXV Montcada Open
Indians convincingly dominated this 9-round-event in Barcelona. Among the top ten finishers of the event, three were Indians! GM Shyam Sundar who had missed the top prize in the 2016 edition of the event on tiebreak made no mistake this time and won the event with a score of 7.0/10. Interestingly enough, last year too, he had scored 7.0/9 and was tied for first. But this time around, the tiebreak was in his favour. IM P Inayan also finished third scoring 6.5/9. The Chennai-based IM Ponnuswami Konguvel also had a great run and finished 10th.
A glimpse of the chess culture in Spain: as soon as a game gets interesting, the Spaniards crowd around to enjoy it to the fullest!
According to the rules of the Montcada Open, results of tie-breaks were to be announced only after all games of the round had finished. This is why, all eyes were on the game of Devarshi Mukherjee, whose game was the last to finish. The game ended in a draw and it was only after the game finished that we got to know that GM Shyam Sundar had won the title prize. Anyway, let’s take a look at his game for now.
[Event "XXV OPEN INTERNACIONAL CIUTAT DE MONTCAD"]
[Site "Espai Cultural Kursaal, c. Mas"]
[Date "2017.07.03"]
[Round "9.12"]
[White "Lorenzo De La Riva, Lazaro"]
[Black "Debarshi, Mukherjee"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D90"]
[WhiteElo "2376"]
[BlackElo "2301"]
[PlyCount "276"]
[EventDate "2017.06.26"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAT"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. h4 c6 6. Bg5 Be6 7. cxd5 cxd5 8. Qb3
Qb6 9. Qxb6 axb6 10. Bxf6 exf6 11. e3 Ke7 12. Kd2 Na6 13. g3 h5 14. Bg2 Nc7 15.
Ne1 Bh6 16. Nd3 Kd6 17. a4 Bf5 18. Nb4 Ra5 19. Ra3 Bd7 20. Nd3 Rha8 21. Rb3
R8a6 22. Nb4 Ra7 23. Nc2 R5a6 24. Bf1 Bxa4 25. Nxa4 Rxa4 26. Rxb6+ Ke7 27. Nb4
R4a5 28. Be2 Na8 29. Rb5 Rxb5 30. Bxb5 Nc7 31. Be2 Ra4 32. Kc3 Bf8 33. Kb3 Ra5
34. g4 hxg4 35. h5 f5 36. hxg6 fxg6 37. Rh7+ Kd6 38. Rf7 Be7 39. Rg7 Bf6 40.
Rxg6 Ke6 41. Rh6 Ra8 42. Rh7 Be7 43. Nd3 Rf8 44. Nf4+ Kd6 45. Ng6 Re8 46. Ne5
Rf8 47. Bd3 Rf6 48. Rh5 Ke6 49. Be2 Bd6 50. Nd3 b6 51. Rh8 Rg6 52. Kc2 g3 53.
fxg3 Rxg3 54. Kd2 Kd7 55. Rh7+ Ke6 56. Rh6+ Ke7 57. Rh7+ Kf6 58. Ne5 Rg7 59.
Rh6+ Ke7 60. Ng6+ Kd7 61. Nh4 Bb4+ 62. Kd3 Ne6 63. Nxf5 Rg5 64. Rh7+ Kd8 65.
Nh4 Rg3 66. Nf3 Bd6 67. Kd2 Ng5 68. Nxg5 Rxg5 69. Bf3 Be7 70. Rh6 Kc7 71. Ke2
b5 72. b3 b4 73. Ra6 Kd7 74. Kf2 Bd6 75. Ke2 Be7 76. Kd3 Bd6 77. Ra7+ Ke6 78.
Rh7 Be7 79. Rh6+ Bf6 80. Rh1 Be7 81. e4 dxe4+ 82. Kxe4 Rg6 83. Ra1 Bf6 84. Ra7
Rg1 85. Be2 Re1 86. Ke3 Be7 87. Kd2 Rg1 88. Bc4+ Kd6 89. Rb7 Rg2+ 90. Kd3 Rg3+
91. Ke2 Rg4 92. d5 Bf6 93. Rxb4 Bd4 94. Rb8 Rg6 95. Ra8 Rg3 96. Ra6+ Kc7 97.
Rh6 Be5 98. Rc6+ Kd7 99. Bd3 Bd6 100. Ra6 Ke7 101. Bc4 Rg2+ 102. Kf3 Rg3+ 103.
Ke4 Rg4+ 104. Kf5 Rf4+ 105. Kg5 Rf8 106. Ra7+ Kd8 107. Bb5 Kc8 108. Ba6+ Kd8
109. Kg6 Bc5 110. Rb7 Rf4 111. Bc4 Kc8 112. Rh7 Kd8 113. Kg5 Rf8 114. Bd3 Rf3
115. Bc4 Rf8 116. Kg4 Bd6 117. Bb5 Kc8 118. Bd7+ Kc7 119. Be6+ Kb6 120. Rd7 Be5
121. Bf7 Rh8 122. Kf5 Bg3 123. Re7 Rh6 124. Re3 Bd6 125. Rc3 Bc5 126. Rc4 Rh1
127. Be8 Rf1+ 128. Ke6 Re1+ 129. Kd7 Re7+ 130. Kd8 Rc7 131. Bc6 Be7+ 132. Ke8
Bf6 133. Re4 Rh7 134. Bd7 Rh8+ 135. Kf7 Rh7+ 136. Ke8 Rh8+ 137. Kf7 Rh7+ 138.
Ke8 Rh8+ 1/2-1/2
[Site "Espai Cultural Kursaal, c. Mas"]
[Date "2017.07.03"]
[Round "9.12"]
[White "Lorenzo De La Riva, Lazaro"]
[Black "Debarshi, Mukherjee"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D90"]
[WhiteElo "2376"]
[BlackElo "2301"]
[PlyCount "276"]
[EventDate "2017.06.26"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAT"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. h4 c6 6. Bg5 Be6 7. cxd5 cxd5 8. Qb3
Qb6 9. Qxb6 axb6 10. Bxf6 exf6 11. e3 Ke7 12. Kd2 Na6 13. g3 h5 14. Bg2 Nc7 15.
Ne1 Bh6 16. Nd3 Kd6 17. a4 Bf5 18. Nb4 Ra5 19. Ra3 Bd7 20. Nd3 Rha8 21. Rb3
R8a6 22. Nb4 Ra7 23. Nc2 R5a6 24. Bf1 Bxa4 25. Nxa4 Rxa4 26. Rxb6+ Ke7 27. Nb4
R4a5 28. Be2 Na8 29. Rb5 Rxb5 30. Bxb5 Nc7 31. Be2 Ra4 32. Kc3 Bf8 33. Kb3 Ra5
34. g4 hxg4 35. h5 f5 36. hxg6 fxg6 37. Rh7+ Kd6 38. Rf7 Be7 39. Rg7 Bf6 40.
Rxg6 Ke6 41. Rh6 Ra8 42. Rh7 Be7 43. Nd3 Rf8 44. Nf4+ Kd6 45. Ng6 Re8 46. Ne5
Rf8 47. Bd3 Rf6 48. Rh5 Ke6 49. Be2 Bd6 50. Nd3 b6 51. Rh8 Rg6 52. Kc2 g3 53.
fxg3 Rxg3 54. Kd2 Kd7 55. Rh7+ Ke6 56. Rh6+ Ke7 57. Rh7+ Kf6 58. Ne5 Rg7 59.
Rh6+ Ke7 60. Ng6+ Kd7 61. Nh4 Bb4+ 62. Kd3 Ne6 63. Nxf5 Rg5 64. Rh7+ Kd8 65.
Nh4 Rg3 66. Nf3 Bd6 67. Kd2 Ng5 68. Nxg5 Rxg5 69. Bf3 Be7 70. Rh6 Kc7 71. Ke2
b5 72. b3 b4 73. Ra6 Kd7 74. Kf2 Bd6 75. Ke2 Be7 76. Kd3 Bd6 77. Ra7+ Ke6 78.
Rh7 Be7 79. Rh6+ Bf6 80. Rh1 Be7 81. e4 dxe4+ 82. Kxe4 Rg6 83. Ra1 Bf6 84. Ra7
Rg1 85. Be2 Re1 86. Ke3 Be7 87. Kd2 Rg1 88. Bc4+ Kd6 89. Rb7 Rg2+ 90. Kd3 Rg3+
91. Ke2 Rg4 92. d5 Bf6 93. Rxb4 Bd4 94. Rb8 Rg6 95. Ra8 Rg3 96. Ra6+ Kc7 97.
Rh6 Be5 98. Rc6+ Kd7 99. Bd3 Bd6 100. Ra6 Ke7 101. Bc4 Rg2+ 102. Kf3 Rg3+ 103.
Ke4 Rg4+ 104. Kf5 Rf4+ 105. Kg5 Rf8 106. Ra7+ Kd8 107. Bb5 Kc8 108. Ba6+ Kd8
109. Kg6 Bc5 110. Rb7 Rf4 111. Bc4 Kc8 112. Rh7 Kd8 113. Kg5 Rf8 114. Bd3 Rf3
115. Bc4 Rf8 116. Kg4 Bd6 117. Bb5 Kc8 118. Bd7+ Kc7 119. Be6+ Kb6 120. Rd7 Be5
121. Bf7 Rh8 122. Kf5 Bg3 123. Re7 Rh6 124. Re3 Bd6 125. Rc3 Bc5 126. Rc4 Rh1
127. Be8 Rf1+ 128. Ke6 Re1+ 129. Kd7 Re7+ 130. Kd8 Rc7 131. Bc6 Be7+ 132. Ke8
Bf6 133. Re4 Rh7 134. Bd7 Rh8+ 135. Kf7 Rh7+ 136. Ke8 Rh8+ 137. Kf7 Rh7+ 138.
Ke8 Rh8+ 1/2-1/2
Tournament Director and organiser, IM Arturo Vidarte thanked all players at the end of the event and encouraged them to participate again next year.
Catalan Chess Circuit Head Antonio Aza Kasmitzana said he was proud that the tournament had completed 25 years and that he and his team will be committed to keeping their high standards in future editions as well.
The Mayor of the municipality of Montcada was impressed to see participation from so many countries!
Inayan, Saloni and Dhulipalla Chandra scored International Norms
Some other achievements by Indians included a GM norm by IM P. Iniyan, an IM norm by Dhulipalla Chandra and a WIM norm by Saloni Saple. Out of the five norms scored at the event, three were by Indians!
Current Women’s World Junior Champion, Deysi Cori, won the Best Woman Prize
Saloni Saple not only scored a WIM norm but also won the Best U-2100 prize
IM Anup Deshmukh also had a good run in the event. He scored 5.5/9 and won against the much higher rated GM.
[Event "Barbera International"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2017.07.03"]
[Round "1"]
[White "GM Rizouk Aimen"]
[Black "IM Anup Deshmukh"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C46"]
[WhiteElo "2472"]
[BlackElo "2241"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.05"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.05"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nd5 Bc5 5. Nxe5 Nf6 6. Nf3 Nxe4 7. d4 Be7 8.
Qe2 f5 9. Bf4 d6 10. O-O-O O-O 11. h4 Be6 12. Nxe7+ Nxe7 13. Ng5 Bxa2 14. f3
Ng6 15. fxe4 Nxf4 16. Qe3 fxe4 17. g3 Nd5 18. Qa3 Rxf1 19. Rdxf1 Bc4 20. Re1
Nf6 21. Rhg1 Qe7 22. g4 a5 23. Qe3 Re8 24. Qc3 d5 25. Qxa5 c6 26. b3 Ba6 27.
Kb2 Qd6 28. Qc3 b6 29. Qg3 Qb4 30. Qc3 Qd6 31. Qe3 Bc8 32. Nh3 Qe7 33. Nf2 Bd7
34. Nd3 Qd6 35. Ne5 Ra8 36. Qc3 Qa3+ 37. Kb1 Be8 38. Qb2 Qb4 39. c3 Qb5 40. c4
Qb4 41. Kc2 Ra7 42. g5 Nh5 43. Ra1 Rxa1 44. Rxa1 Qe7 45. Ra8 Nf4 46. Qa3 c5 47.
Qa7 Kf8 48. Qxb6 Ne6 49. Nc6 Qd6 50. cxd5 Nxd4+ 51. Kb1 e3 52. Kb2 e2 53. Ra1
Nxc6 54. dxc6 Qe5+ 0-1
[Site "?"]
[Date "2017.07.03"]
[Round "1"]
[White "GM Rizouk Aimen"]
[Black "IM Anup Deshmukh"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C46"]
[WhiteElo "2472"]
[BlackElo "2241"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.05"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.05"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nd5 Bc5 5. Nxe5 Nf6 6. Nf3 Nxe4 7. d4 Be7 8.
Qe2 f5 9. Bf4 d6 10. O-O-O O-O 11. h4 Be6 12. Nxe7+ Nxe7 13. Ng5 Bxa2 14. f3
Ng6 15. fxe4 Nxf4 16. Qe3 fxe4 17. g3 Nd5 18. Qa3 Rxf1 19. Rdxf1 Bc4 20. Re1
Nf6 21. Rhg1 Qe7 22. g4 a5 23. Qe3 Re8 24. Qc3 d5 25. Qxa5 c6 26. b3 Ba6 27.
Kb2 Qd6 28. Qc3 b6 29. Qg3 Qb4 30. Qc3 Qd6 31. Qe3 Bc8 32. Nh3 Qe7 33. Nf2 Bd7
34. Nd3 Qd6 35. Ne5 Ra8 36. Qc3 Qa3+ 37. Kb1 Be8 38. Qb2 Qb4 39. c3 Qb5 40. c4
Qb4 41. Kc2 Ra7 42. g5 Nh5 43. Ra1 Rxa1 44. Rxa1 Qe7 45. Ra8 Nf4 46. Qa3 c5 47.
Qa7 Kf8 48. Qxb6 Ne6 49. Nc6 Qd6 50. cxd5 Nxd4+ 51. Kb1 e3 52. Kb2 e2 53. Ra1
Nxc6 54. dxc6 Qe5+ 0-1
What looks clearer - with or without the specs?!
Dhulipalla Chandra Prasad finished 12th and won an IM norm
[Event "XXV OPEN INTERNACIONAL CIUTAT DE MONTCAD"]
[Site "Espai Cultural Kursaal, c. Mas"]
[Date "2017.07.02"]
[Round "8.9"]
[White "Dhulipalla, Bala Chandra Prasad"]
[Black "Rizouk, Aimen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A45"]
[WhiteElo "2335"]
[BlackElo "2472"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2017.06.26"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAT"]
[WhiteClock "0:01:27"]
[BlackClock "0:00:31"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 e6 3. e3 c5 4. Nf3 b6 5. Nc3 d5 6. Nb5 Na6 7. c3 Be7 8. Ne5
Bb7 9. Bd3 O-O 10. Qf3 Ne4 11. Qh3 f5 12. g4 cxd4 13. Bxe4 dxe3 14. Bf3 exf2+
15. Kxf2 Nc5 16. Kg2 Bg5 17. Bg3 Ne4 18. gxf5 exf5 19. Nd4 Bc8 20. Bf2 Qf6 21.
Nd3 Bd7 22. Rhg1 Kh8 23. Kh1 Bh6 24. Raf1 Rae8 25. Qg2 Re7 26. Nb4 Qd6 27. Bg3
f4 28. Bh4 g5 29. Bf2 a5 30. Nd3 Nf6 31. h3 Rg8 32. Qh2 g4 33. hxg4 Nxg4 34.
Bxg4 Bxg4 35. Bh4 Reg7 36. Nxf4 Qe5 37. Ng6+ 1-0
[Site "Espai Cultural Kursaal, c. Mas"]
[Date "2017.07.02"]
[Round "8.9"]
[White "Dhulipalla, Bala Chandra Prasad"]
[Black "Rizouk, Aimen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A45"]
[WhiteElo "2335"]
[BlackElo "2472"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2017.06.26"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAT"]
[WhiteClock "0:01:27"]
[BlackClock "0:00:31"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 e6 3. e3 c5 4. Nf3 b6 5. Nc3 d5 6. Nb5 Na6 7. c3 Be7 8. Ne5
Bb7 9. Bd3 O-O 10. Qf3 Ne4 11. Qh3 f5 12. g4 cxd4 13. Bxe4 dxe3 14. Bf3 exf2+
15. Kxf2 Nc5 16. Kg2 Bg5 17. Bg3 Ne4 18. gxf5 exf5 19. Nd4 Bc8 20. Bf2 Qf6 21.
Nd3 Bd7 22. Rhg1 Kh8 23. Kh1 Bh6 24. Raf1 Rae8 25. Qg2 Re7 26. Nb4 Qd6 27. Bg3
f4 28. Bh4 g5 29. Bf2 a5 30. Nd3 Nf6 31. h3 Rg8 32. Qh2 g4 33. hxg4 Nxg4 34.
Bxg4 Bxg4 35. Bh4 Reg7 36. Nxf4 Qe5 37. Ng6+ 1-0
IM P Konguvel finished 10th with a score of 6.0/9
IM P Iniyan showed his class by securing both a GM norm and the third place in the tournament. But with a K factor of 10, reaching 2500 Elo will be an arduous task. On the other hand, there is Vardan Nagpal who swiftly galloped up to the 2500 rating mark with a K factor of 40. Both players are hardworking and we don’t intend to belittle Nagpal’s achievement by any means. But this is something FIDE must take into consideration while devising its rating system.
[Event "XXV OPEN INTERNACIONAL CIUTAT DE MONTCAD"]
[Site "Espai Cultural Kursaal, c. Mas"]
[Date "2017.07.02"]
[Round "8.4"]
[White "Iniyan, P."]
[Black "Santos Latasa, Jaime"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2392"]
[BlackElo "2567"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2017.06.26"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAT"]
[WhiteClock "0:21:39"]
[BlackClock "1:03:02"]
1. d4 d6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. e4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O exd4 8. Nxd4
Re8 9. f3 c6 10. Nc2 Na6 11. Kh1 Nc7 12. Bf4 d5 13. exd5 cxd5 14. c5 Ne6 15.
Bd6 d4 16. Nxd4 Nxd4 17. Qxd4 Ne4 18. Qd3 Nxd6 19. cxd6 Bf5 20. Qd2 Re6 21.
Rad1 Bf8 22. Ne4 Rc8 23. Qb4 Qb6 24. Qxb6 axb6 25. d7 Rd8 26. g4 Bxe4 27. fxe4
Rxe4 28. Bb5 Re5 29. Rfe1 f6 30. Rxe5 fxe5 31. Rd5 Bg7 32. Rd6 e4 33. Re6 Kf7
34. Rxe4 Bxb2 35. g5 Bc1 36. h4 1-0
[Site "Espai Cultural Kursaal, c. Mas"]
[Date "2017.07.02"]
[Round "8.4"]
[White "Iniyan, P."]
[Black "Santos Latasa, Jaime"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2392"]
[BlackElo "2567"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2017.06.26"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAT"]
[WhiteClock "0:21:39"]
[BlackClock "1:03:02"]
1. d4 d6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. e4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O exd4 8. Nxd4
Re8 9. f3 c6 10. Nc2 Na6 11. Kh1 Nc7 12. Bf4 d5 13. exd5 cxd5 14. c5 Ne6 15.
Bd6 d4 16. Nxd4 Nxd4 17. Qxd4 Ne4 18. Qd3 Nxd6 19. cxd6 Bf5 20. Qd2 Re6 21.
Rad1 Bf8 22. Ne4 Rc8 23. Qb4 Qb6 24. Qxb6 axb6 25. d7 Rd8 26. g4 Bxe4 27. fxe4
Rxe4 28. Bb5 Re5 29. Rfe1 f6 30. Rxe5 fxe5 31. Rd5 Bg7 32. Rd6 e4 33. Re6 Kf7
34. Rxe4 Bxb2 35. g5 Bc1 36. h4 1-0
Catalan Chess Circuit seems to be really lucky for GM Shyam Sunder. Last year he’d finished second and this year he’s won the title prize.
[Event "XXV OPEN INTERNACIONAL CIUTAT DE MONTCAD"]
[Site "Espai Cultural Kursaal, c. Mas"]
[Date "2017.07.01"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Shyam, Sundar M"]
[Black "Konguvel, Ponnuswamy"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2535"]
[BlackElo "2391"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2017.06.26"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAT"]
[WhiteClock "0:04:49"]
[BlackClock "0:01:52"]
1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nf3 d6 4. Bc4 a6 5. Qe2 e6 6. h4 h6 7. a4 Ne7 8. Bd3 Nd7
9. Nbd2 e5 10. dxe5 Nxe5 11. Nxe5 Bxe5 12. Nc4 Bg7 13. h5 g5 14. O-O Be6 15.
Ne3 Qd7 16. Nf5 Be5 17. f4 gxf4 18. Bxf4 O-O-O 19. Bxe5 dxe5 20. Ng7 Rhg8 21.
Nxe6 fxe6 22. Bc4 Nc6 23. c3 Kb8 24. Rf6 Qe7 25. Rxe6 Qc5+ 26. Kh2 Rg5 27. b4
Qf8 28. Rf1 Qg7 29. Ref6 Rg4 30. Be6 Rf4 31. Rg6 Qe7 32. b5 axb5 33. axb5 Qh4+
34. Bh3 Rxe4 35. Qf2 Qxh5 36. bxc6 Qxg6 37. Ra1 b6 38. Qa2 1-0
[Site "Espai Cultural Kursaal, c. Mas"]
[Date "2017.07.01"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Shyam, Sundar M"]
[Black "Konguvel, Ponnuswamy"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2535"]
[BlackElo "2391"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2017.06.26"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CAT"]
[WhiteClock "0:04:49"]
[BlackClock "0:01:52"]
1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nf3 d6 4. Bc4 a6 5. Qe2 e6 6. h4 h6 7. a4 Ne7 8. Bd3 Nd7
9. Nbd2 e5 10. dxe5 Nxe5 11. Nxe5 Bxe5 12. Nc4 Bg7 13. h5 g5 14. O-O Be6 15.
Ne3 Qd7 16. Nf5 Be5 17. f4 gxf4 18. Bxf4 O-O-O 19. Bxe5 dxe5 20. Ng7 Rhg8 21.
Nxe6 fxe6 22. Bc4 Nc6 23. c3 Kb8 24. Rf6 Qe7 25. Rxe6 Qc5+ 26. Kh2 Rg5 27. b4
Qf8 28. Rf1 Qg7 29. Ref6 Rg4 30. Be6 Rf4 31. Rg6 Qe7 32. b5 axb5 33. axb5 Qh4+
34. Bh3 Rxe4 35. Qf2 Qxh5 36. bxc6 Qxg6 37. Ra1 b6 38. Qa2 1-0
Top three finishers with the tournament organisers
Fenil Shah narrowly missed on scoring an IM norm because his opponent didn’t turn up in the final round. But we hope he will do even better in the future events. Ojas Kulkarni and Likhit Chilukuri also showed some great form at this event.
CM Vinod Bhagwat had prepared hard for this event but had a bad start. However, he did make a comeback in the final rounds.
Another upcoming Indian talent, Anuj Srivatri, has been improving his rating at a lightning fast speed. In this tournament, he gained 117 points!
Life in Spain!
This trip to Spain has taught us all a lot. We not only prepare for our tournament games but also live in a self-reliant manner. How many rating points do you think we will gain for taking up all our responsibilities and being self-sufficient?
When an IM becomes a chef!
That’s our mix vegetable curry. (Okay we’d goofed up a little, but it was still tasty!)
And this is Basmati Pulav which lacks just a bit of turmeric
“IM ke haath ka khana” wasn’t like like “maa ke haath ka khana, but we still enjoyed it!
A quick tip for you if you’re planning to visit Spain: Buy a metro card like the one us smarties bought. It costs € 71 and allows you unlimited access to trains, metros, buses and trams for an entire month!
When you travel using one of the world’s best public transport systems, travelling becomes so much fun!
Madhya Pradesh lad, Ashwin Daniel would wake up at 5 am and walk 8 km along the beach every morning!
An IM and a former national champion too have to do the cleaning!
Next stop Barbera del Valles tournament! Hope you enjoyed the report and got some insights in how life is like when you live in an apartment and play a lot of tournaments in a row.
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