FM Apoorv Kamble of Karnataka wins Sakthi Group 31st TN IM Norm Closed Circuit Chess Tournament – Chennai
Sakthi Group 31st TN IM Norm Closed Circuit Chess Tournament – Chennai was organised in a great manner at Hotel Chennai Le Palace, Porur, Chennai from 5th to 11th October, 2025.
FM Apoorv Kamble drew with FM Nandish of Coimbatore in 19 moves from white side of Scotch game, with only major pieces and equal Pawns remaining on the board. He has scored 7.5 out of 9 rounds and achieved his IM Norm. He also received a cash prize of 500 USD for winning the tournament followed by IM Palencia Morales Wilson Guillermo of Colombia with 6 rounds stood 2nd positions and received 300 USD followed by FM Nandish V S finished on 5.5 points stood 3rd and received 200 USD.
CM Sarveshwaran beat IM Claverie of Argentina in a game of French defense. In an opposite side castling, the Indian player was able to pile up his major pieces on the Queen Bishop file. The Argentinian unable to cope up the pressure, resigned on the 31st move, when a mating net was hard to deal with. IM Palencia obtained a tangible advantage early in the middle game against WIM Mrudul Dehankar. Few inaccuracies in the endgame with Queen, Rook and bishop filtered into equal endgame and both agreed for a draw in 46 moves. IM Oblitas made a temporary knight sacrifice by 9th move, dragged the black king out of shelter. The Peruvian IM won an exchange and few Pawns in Rooks endgame and won comfortably in 58 moves. The game between SS Manigandan and GM Podolchenko, ended in a fighting draw. The Queen and rook endgame filtered to Rook ending with equal Pawns and both signed a true in 83 moves.
The prizes were distributed by Shri A Harikrishnan, I.R.S., Additional Commissioner (Retd.) Income Tax, International Volleyball Player, in presence of Shri. Stephen Balasamy P, General Secretary, TNSCA & Tournament Director, Shri. Murugavel, Vice President, TNSCA, Shri. Vijayaraghavan V, Vice President, TNSCA, Shri. Srinivasan, Treasurer, TNSCA and International Arbiter Ravikumar, Chief Arbiter report.

Top three winners – 31st IM Norm Circuit Tournament
Results – Round 9
Bo. | Title | White | FED | Pts | Result | Title | Black | FED | Pts |
1 | FM | Apoorv, Kamble | India | 7.5 | drew | FM | Nandish, V S | India | 5.5 |
2 | WIM | Mrudul, Dehankar | India | 4 | Drew | IM | Palencia Morales, | Colombia | 6 |
3 | CM | Sarveshwaran, V | India | 5 | Beat | IM | Claverie, Raul | Argentina | 2.5 |
4 | IM | Oblitas Carlomagno | Peru | 4 | Beat | Surendran, N | India | 4 | |
5 | Manigandan, S S | India | 2.5 | Drew | GM | Podolchenko, Evgeniy | Belarus | 4 |
Final ranking
Rank | Title | Name | IRtg | Club | Pts |
1 | FM | Apoorv Kamble | 2365 | India – Karnataka | 7½ |
2 | IM | Palencia Morales Wilson Guillermo | 2206 | Colombia | 6 |
3 | FM | Nandish V S | 2251 | India – Tamil Nadu | 5½ |
4 | CM | Sarveshwaran V | 2290 | India – Tamil Nadu | 5 |
5 | IM | Oblitas Carlomagno | 2379 | Peru | 4 |
6 | GM | Podolchenko Evgeniy | 2321 | Belarus | 4 |
7 | Surendran N | 2158 | India – Tami Nadu | 4 | |
8 | WIM | Mrudul Dehankar | 2244 | India – Maharashtra | 4 |
9 | Manigandan S S | 2156 | India – Tamil Nadu | 2½ | |
10 | IM | Claverie Raul | 2185 | Argentina | 2½ |