67th TAMIL NADU STATE OPEN FIDE RATED CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP, 2019. Coimbatore
School boy V.Pranav is the Champion
As many as 251 players representing 27 districts and affiliates entered the fray in the 67th Tamil Nadu State Open FIDE rated chess championship organised by GMLs Academy , Coimbatore from April 26 to 30, 2019. The five day event held at Hindustan College of Engineering in the Textile city of Coimbatore was formally inaugurated by Mr.R.P.Ravichandran, District Sports & Youth Welfare Officer, Coimbatore after making a formal move in the ‘Square off board’ (an electronic chess board which will play against a player on its own). The total prize fund of the championship was Rs.1,50,000/-.
Being a selection tournament for the ensuing national senior championship with an attractive total prize fund of Rs.1,50,000/- each game was played with grit and determination. The optimum climate prevailed in Coimbatore was very conducive for the game of chess. In a nine round swiss event V.Pranav of Vellammal Vidyalaya, Chennai, a world under 10 Bronze medalist emerged as the Champion by targeting 8 points from nine rounds. He was a clear cut champion after winning 7 games and conceding two draws. The champion by virtue of winning the coveted title carried home prize money of Rs.30000/- apart from the winner’s trophy. The runner up was S.S.Manigandan (Madurai) who scored 7.5 points and pocketed Rs.22500/-. His only loss in the tournament was against the champion Pranav. In a ten way tie for the third place B.Sekar (Chennai) with 7 points finished third on account of better buchholz score. He was richer by Rs.17,500/-.
In a well attended valedictory function Dr.J.P. Satish Prabu, Executive Director, Hindustan Hospital awarded prizes to the winners in the presence of Dr. C.Natarajan, Principal, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Mr.N.Jaybal, President, Coimbatore District Chess Association. IA V. Vijayaraghavan, Joint Secretary, TNSCA and Secretary, CDCA felicitated the winners.Every one was in all praise for Shri.Arasu of GMLs Academy for organizing this prestigious championship in a great style. Dr. V.Ravi Kumar, Director of Phyisical Education, HIT proposed vote of thanks.