Nandhidhaa P V convincingly clinches 50th National Women Championship 2024
WGM Nandhidhaa P V (TN) scored an unbeaten 9/11 to win 50th National Women Championship 2024. This is her first National Women title. WIM Priyanka K (TN), IM Padmini Rout (PSPB) and WGM Kiran Manisha Mohanty (LIC) scored 8.5/11 each. They secured second to fourth place according to tie-breaks. Nandhidhaa defeated WGM Priyanka Nutakki (AP) in the final round to become the champion. She also won against the defending champion, Padmini in Round 9. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹3000000. The top three prizes were ₹700000 + trophy, ₹550000 and ₹450000 each. The eleven-day eleven round Rating tournament was organized by and at Chettinadu Public School in Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu from 3rd to 13th October 2024. This is Nandhidhaa's first tournament triumph of the year and she secured her place in the FIDE Women's World Cup 2025. Photo: IA V Vijayaraghavan
Tamil Nadu dominates the podium
Steady performances in the last five rounds by WGM P V Nandhidhaa of Tamil Nadu clinch her maiden National Women Championship. The 11 days, 11 rounds tournament concluded recently at the Chettinadu Public School Former Asian Continental Chess Champion, Nandhidhaa scored an impressive 4 points out of 5 rounds. En route her title, she beat IM Padmini Rout, WGM Priyanka Nutakki, WIM Sakshi ChItlange and drew with Sarayu Velpula and WFM J Saranya.
Defending champion, Padmini Rout, looking for her sixth title, beat WFM J Saranya in the last round and had to wait for the top board result. Finally, she had to be content with the third place. The surprise of the event was by second placed WIM K Priyanka of TN. Probably the best performance so far in her chess career, Priyanka beat WGM Srija Seshadri, WGM Varshini V and IM Nisha Mohota, drew with WGM Nandhidhaa, IM Padmini, WGM Mary Ann Gomes, WGM Priyanka Nutakki and WFM Saranya. WGM Kiran Manisha Mohanty made a big leap by scoring 4.5 out of the last five rounds to finish at a creditable fourth place. Seasoned campaigners IM Bhakti Kulkarni and WGM Mary Ann Gomes finished with 8 points. Jeevika S of Puducherry gained 166 Elo rating points, won a crucial full point from Bhakti in the process.
Along with Nandhidhaa, WIM Priyanka K and WGM Kiran Manisha Mohanty are possible qualifiers for the FIDE Women's World Cup 2025. Padmini has already secured her spot by winning the 49th edition.
Nandhidhaa - Padmini, Round 9
IM Padmini Rout (2328) made the mistake of retreating her knight 35...Nf7? 36.Ne4+- Qe6 37.f3 g4! needed to be played. Instead, 37...Nxh6 allowed White to play 38.g4 and once again White got decisive advantage after few moves, the connected b and c-passed pawns played a crucial role in earning the full point.
Nandhidhaa - Priyanka Nutakki, Round 11
WGM Priyanka Nutakki's (2289) aggressive play 9...Kf7 did not work out the way she would have preferred. 10.Nd2 g6 11.0-0-0 Bh6 12.Qe2 Bxd2+ 13.Rxd2 g5 14.Qh5+ Kg7 15.Nf3 Be6 16.h4 Bf7 17.Qg4 h5 18.Qg3 g4 19.Nh2 Kh7 20.f3 f5 21.fxg4 fxg4 22.Rf2 Bg6 23.Rhf1 and Black's position fell apart in a hurry.
The championship was well organised by the host Chettinadu Public School, Karaikudi, who provided free air-conditioned rooms for selected players, free food, free transportation to the venue, free trips to temples and other cultural spots. S P Kumaresan, the Chairman, wished the participants well, stating that this tournament should remain etched in their memories. Chess is an important sport in the school curriculum and children are encouraged to take part in club activities.
Kudos to the team of Arbiters, Fair play officers, Live in charge, Tournament Coordinator, for smooth conduct of championship – with Chairman S P Kumaresan and Vice Chairman K Arunkumar.
About the School
"Chettinadu Public School is a school, founded on love for children. We are a school that trusts in the promise of a brave new world. And we believe that the children are the purveyors of that dawn. We trust in an education that is forming, life-giving and nourishing. We work towards retrieving the sacred in education. We confirm that education must meet the child and it must meet the whole child."
Replay Round 7-11 games
Round 11 results
| Bo. | White | Rtg | Club/City | Pts. | Result | Pts. | Black | Rtg | Club/City | PGN | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | WGM | Nandhidhaa, P V | 2322 | TN | 8 | 1 - 0 | 7½ | WGM | Priyanka, Nutakki | 2289 | AP | PGN |
| 2 | IM | Padmini, Rout | 2328 | PSPB | 7½ | 1 - 0 | 8 | WFM | Saranya, J | 2048 | TN | PGN |
| 3 | WIM | Chitlange, Sakshi | 2188 | MAH | 7½ | ½ - ½ | 7½ | WGM | Rakshitta, Ravi | 2322 | TN | PGN |
| 4 | WGM | Gomes, Mary Ann | 2298 | PSPB | 7½ | ½ - ½ | 7½ | WGM | Varshini, V | 2142 | TN | PGN |
| 5 | WIM | Priyanka, K | 2075 | TN | 7½ | 1 - 0 | 7½ | IM | Mohota, Nisha | 2140 | PSPB | PGN |
| 6 | WFM | Keerti, Shree Reddy | 2033 | TN | 7 | 0 - 1 | 7½ | WGM | Kiran, Manisha Mohanty | 2030 | LIC | PGN |
| 7 | IM | Kulkarni, Bhakti | 2363 | Goa | 7 | 1 - 0 | 7 | WGM | Srija, Seshadri | 2258 | TN | PGN |
| 8 | Velpula, Sarayu | 2370 | TEL | 6½ | 0 - 1 | 7 | WFM | Lasya, G | 2010 | AP | PGN | |
| 9 | WIM | Sharma, Isha | 2228 | KAR | 6½ | 1 - 0 | 6½ | WCM | Sherali, Pattnaik | 1891 | UTR | PGN |
| 10 | Kanishka, S | 1862 | TN | 6½ | 0 - 1 | 6½ | WFM | Kalyani, Sirin | 2132 | KER | PGN |
Final standings
| Rk. | SNo | Name | Rtg | Club/City | Pts. | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 | TB4 | TB5 | Rp | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | WGM | Nandhidhaa, P V | 2322 | TN | 9 | 75,5 | 81 | 66,00 | 0 | 7 | 2353 |
| 2 | 19 | WIM | Priyanka, K | 2075 | TN | 8,5 | 78,5 | 84,5 | 64,00 | 0 | 6 | 2343 |
| 3 | 3 | IM | Padmini, Rout | 2328 | PSPB | 8,5 | 76,5 | 81,5 | 60,25 | 0 | 7 | 2332 |
| 4 | 25 | WGM | Kiran, Manisha Mohanty | 2030 | LIC | 8,5 | 68,5 | 73 | 55,25 | 0 | 7 | 2193 |
| 5 | 20 | WFM | Saranya, J | 2048 | TN | 8 | 74,5 | 79 | 54,50 | 0 | 6 | 2205 |
| 6 | 11 | WIM | Chitlange, Sakshi | 2188 | MAH | 8 | 73,5 | 79 | 55,00 | 0 | 6 | 2179 |
| 7 | 6 | WGM | Gomes, Mary Ann | 2298 | PSPB | 8 | 73 | 78 | 55,25 | 0 | 6 | 2224 |
| 8 | 14 | WGM | Varshini, V | 2142 | TN | 8 | 70,5 | 76 | 51,75 | 0 | 7 | 2226 |
| 9 | 5 | WGM | Rakshitta, Ravi | 2322 | TN | 8 | 69,5 | 73,5 | 50,75 | 0 | 7 | 2152 |
| 10 | 2 | IM | Kulkarni, Bhakti | 2363 | Goa | 8 | 67,5 | 72,5 | 50,75 | 0 | 7 | 2097 |
About the Author
V Vijayaraghavan is an International Arbiter and Vice President of Tamil Nadu State Chess Association. He was also the Tournament Coordinator for 24th, 26th and 27th Tamil Nadu IM-norm Closed Circuit Tournament.
The report was edited by Shahid Ahmed
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50th National Women R1-6: Padmini and Sarayu emerge coleaders
@ 08/10/2024 by V Vijayaraghavan (en) |