2nd Tamil Nadu IM Norm Closed Circuit Chess Tournament 2023
The 2nd edition of Tamil Nadu IM Norm Closed Chess Tournament was organized by Tamil Nadu State Chess Association and Coimbatore District Chess Association under the aegis of All India Chess Federation was held at Dr Mahalingam College of Engineering and Technology, Pollachi from 23rd to 28th October 2023. The event was an initiative of Tamil Nadu State Association to conduct 50 closed IM Norm tournaments across Tamil Nadu to give opportunity for the players to get their international title norms.
This six days tournament was conducted under single round robin system of 10 players with time control of 90 Minutes with 30 second increment from move number 1. Veteran International Master Murugan Krishnamoorthy was the top seed of the event with rating of 2355. Apart from India, players from United States of America, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan and one player from Russia under FIDE flag took part in the event.
Dr. M Manickam at the inauguration function
The tournament was inaugurated by Dr. M. Manickam, President Tamil Nadu State Chess Association and Chairman Dr Mahalingam College of Engineering & Technology in presence of Mr. Senthil Chinaswamy, President Coimbatore District Chess Association, Mr. R Anantharam, Vice President Tamil Nadu State Chess Association and Mr. Dhanasekhar, Secretary Coimbatore District Chess Association.
The tournament was keenly contested and witnessed fierce battle over chequred board in all rounds. At the end of ninth and final round, International Master Asylbek Abdyzhapar of Kyrgyzstan finished as champion with 7 points while International Master David Gochelashvili of Russia playing under FIDE Flag finished as first runner up with 6.5 points and Women Grandmaster Srija Seshadri finished as second runner up with 6 points.
The Petroff defence between Asylbek and Sekar was filled with attacks and counter attacks. Though Sekar lost his rook due to improper handling of the piece, he had a chance to draw the game by a correct play. Asylbek won the game comfortably with his extra rook in 49 moves.
WGM Srija Seshadri of NLC Neyveli won against the young Srihari of Pondicherry; a student of SRM University Chennai, in the Classical Sicilian defence, adopted by the latter. Sacrificing two pawns, Srija combined her queen and rook to post a checkmate threat. Srihari’s queen was a silent spectator at a remote edge of the board.
In an interesting game arising from the Catalan opening between FM Senthil Maran and GM Raset Ziatdinov of USA, the latter had a good position in the middle game. But in the resulting Rook and Pawn ending, the game ended in a draw after 77 moves. Kings Indian defence between the International Masters Murugan and David Gochelashvili of Russia resulted in a win for David in a Bishop vs Knight ending, which Murugan could have drawn.
S Harshad of Coimbatore prevented the Azerbaijan WFM Ayan Allahverdiyeva from achieving her second WIM norm by beating her in a Rook endgame. Harshad’s two connected Pawns tilted the game in his favour.
In a colourful closing ceremony, Shri D V Sundar, former Vice President of FIDE gave away the prizes to the winners along with Dr. M. Manickam, President, Tamil Nadu State Chess Association, Mr. Stephen Balasamy, Secretary, TNSCA, Mr. Srinivasan, Treasurer, TNSCA, Mr. R Anantharam, Vice President, TNSCA, Mr. Vijayaraghavan, Vice President, TNSCA, Mr. K Dhanasekar, Secretary Coimbatore District Chess Association and Dr. M S Govindankutty, chief arbiter.
winner of 2nd Tamil Nadu IM Norm Closed Circuit Chess Tournament 2023
Top three winners
Final ranking after round 9
| Rank | Title | Name | FED | Pts |
| 1 | IM | Abdyzhapar Asylbek | KGZ | 7 |
| 2 | IM | Gochelashvili David | FID | 6½ |
| 3 | WGM | Srija Seshadri | IND | 6 |
| 4 | FM | Harshad S | IND | 5½ |
| 5 | FM | Sekar B | IND | 5 |
| 6 | WFM | Allahverdiyeva Ayan | AZE | 4 |
| 7 | FM | Senthil Maran K | IND | 3½ |
| 8 | GM | Ziatdinov Raset | USA | 3½ |
| 9 | Srihari L | IND | 3 | |
| 10 | IM | Murugan Krishnamoorthy | IND | 1 |
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