Gukesh wins Late Shailesh Nerlikar Memorial Online Blitz Open
GM Gukesh D and GM Aravindh Chithambaram both scored 7.5/9, however Gukesh won Late Shailesh Nerlikar Memorial Online Blitz Open due to a better tie-break score. Aravindh was placed second. Six players finished with 7.0/9, out of them IM Terry Renato of Peru secured the second runner-up position according to the tie-break score. Victorious Chess Academy organized this event and sponsored ₹33000 total prize fund, IM Sagar Shah contributed another ₹12000 to make the total prize fund ₹45000. Total 102 players including 10 GMs, 15 IMs, 2 WGMs and 4 WIMs from India, Ireland, Peru, Russia and USA took part in this event.
Gukesh and Aravindh both finish at 7.5/9
GM Gukesh D and GM Aravindh Chithambaram both finished at 7.5/9, however Gukesh won the tournament due to better tie-breaks. Aravindh had to settle for second position. Six players finished at 7.0/9, Peruvian IM Terry Renato was placed third according to tie-breaks.
Total 102 players including 10 GMs, 15 IMs, 2 WGMs and 4 WIMs from India, Ireland, Peru, Russia and USA took part in this nine-round Swiss League event.
Gukesh survived a scare
In the sixth round, Gk06 (GM Gukesh) survived a checkmate in three and then a draw in the end against STRANGE (IM Aronyak Ghosh).
STRANGE - Gk06, Round 6
Find out why 42...Kf5 is a blunder and what black should have played instead.
The game is a draw but white has to play carefully to make sure he does not lose the game. Of course it is difficult to do so in a time control with no increment and the only way to survive is by making a premove which makes it that much more difficult.
Babysnake bests Gk06
Gk06 (GM D Gukesh) suffered his only loss in Round 4 against Babysnake (IM Mitrabha Guha) after the latter converted a favorable position with ease.
Babysnake - Gk06, Round 4
It is evident that white is dominating the position and with correct play white wrapped up the game in the next 15 moves.
Terry got Hitter
TerryR (IM Terry Renato) of Peru was the only person to beat reigning National Triple Crown champion Hitter1999 (GM Aravindh Chithambaram) in Round 2.
Final Standings
Main Prize winners (Top 10)
| Rank | Name | Score | Prize money |
| 1 | GM D Gukesh | 7.5 | ₹6818 |
| 2 | GM Aravindh Chithambaram | 7.5 | ₹4100 |
| 3 | IM Terry Renato | 7 | ₹2727 |
| 4 | GM Laxman R R | 7 | ₹1364 |
| 5 | IM Koustav Chatterjee | 7 | ₹954 |
| 6 | IM Aronyak Ghosh | 7 | ₹818 |
| 7 | IM Aditya Mittal | 7 | ₹545 |
| 8 | GM Diptayan Ghosh | 7 | ₹545 |
| 9 | IM Mitrabha Guha | 6.5 | ₹545 |
| 10 | GM Visakh N R | 6.5 | ₹545 |
Best Women
| 1 | WIM Sakshi Chitlange | 6 | ₹1364 |
| 2 | WFM Savitha Shri B | 6 | ₹818 |
| 3 | WGM P V Nandhidhaa | 5.5 | ₹545 |
Rating 1801-2000
| 1 | Anand Sivasankar (1853) | 5 | ₹1364 |
| 2 | Kiran Panditrao (1898) | 5 | ₹818 |
| 3 | Arunava Bhattacharjee (1857) | 5 | ₹545 |
Rating 1601-1800
| 1 | Vrashank Chouhan (1795) | 6 | ₹1364 |
| 2 | Arvind Ramnath (1602) | 5 | ₹818 |
| 3 | Vishvesh Kochrekar (1663) | 5 | ₹545 |
Rating 1000-1600
| 1 | Yashwant Telang (1525) | 6 | ₹1364 |
| 2 | Rakesh Kulkarni (1409) | 5 | ₹818 |
| 3 | Sachin Salam (1593) | 5 | ₹545 |
Best Unrated
| 1 | Rahul Anil Bhagwat | 4.5 | ₹1364 |
| 2 | Sameer Gore | 4.5 | ₹818 |
| 3 | Yogesh Maheta | 4 | ₹545 |
Specially Abled
| 1 | Aditya Asaram Ghule | 2 | ₹1364 |
Best VCA Students
| 1 | Ameya Anil Munemane | 5 | ₹1364 |
| 2 | Disha Dhore | 5 | ₹1091 |
| 3 | Advaith Krishnan | 4 | ₹954 |
| 4 | Yash Ankaikar | 4 | ₹818 |
| 5 | Lokesh | 4 | ₹545 |
Lucky Prizes
| 20th | Shiv Shome | 6 | ₹545 |
| 30th | IM Sayantan Das | 5.5 | ₹545 |
| 40th | WGM Leya Garifullina | 5 | ₹545 |
| 50th | Kapil Lohana | 4.5 | ₹545 |
| 60th | Satish Thakur | 4 | ₹545 |
| 70th | Archit Saigal | 4 | ₹545 |
| 80th | Kiran Bemarkar | 3 | ₹545 |
| 90th | Shyam | 2.5 | ₹545 |
| 100th | Tanaya Sandeep Tendulkar | 2 | ₹545 |
Mr. Sachin Salam has sponsored Best Unrated and Specially Abled category prizes. We thank all the participants on behalf of VCA and Nerlikar family. IM Sagar Shah contributed a further ₹12000 to increase the total prize fund to ₹45000
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Links
Edit: Few category prizes corrected
