Over 1000 players participate in the biggest National Schools Championship

Maharashtra dominate the biggest National Schools

Almost eight months after the conclusion of 8th National School, the ninth edition took place at Divisional Sports Complex, Aurangabad, Maharashtra from 27th November to 1st December 2019, organized by Grandmaster Chess Foundation on behalf of All Marathi Chess Association. The tournament was inaugurated by Chief Guest Mr. Ajinkya Sawe, a well known entrepreneur along with Prof. Ramdas Gaikwad. Tournament Director Mr. Vijay Deshpande, Organizing Secretary Dr. Manisha Deshpande, Chief Arbiter IA Nandakumar NK graced Inaugural Ceremony with their presence.

Medal tally

Under-6 open

6-year-old Aditya Shripad Joshi of Maharashtra scored 8.0/9 to clinch the championship. Krishnav Mrinmoy Hazarika of Assam also finished at 8.0/9. However due to a better tie-break score, Aditya became champion. P Mithilesh of Andhra Pradesh scored sole 7.5/9 to finish third.

Aditya secured second position in Maharashtra State Schools earlier this year. He also won a bronze medal each in Western Asia Youth and Junior under-6 open in both classical and rapid format.

Final Standings

Complete standings

Under-6 girls

Shashini Puvi of Karnataka scored 8.0/9 to become champion in under-6 girls. She finished a half point ahead of the runner-up Myrah Sachdev of Maharashtra who scored 7.5/9. Diya Digamber Sawal of Goa finished third with a score of 7.0/9.

This is Shashini's first championship victory ever. She played her first open rating tournament in 2017.

Final Standings

Complete standings

Under-8 open

All three podium finishers Chinmay Kowshik of Karnataka, Ethan Vaz of Goa and Sathvik Adiga of Karnataka finished at 7.5/9, they were placed first, second and third according to their tie-break score.

Earlier this year, Chinmay Kowshik won Gold medal in Commonwealth under-8 open. This National title was his sixth championship victory of his young career.

Final Standings

Complete standings

Under-8 girls

Delhi State under-9 and under-11 girls champion Aadhya Jain beat Kolagatla Alana Meenakshi of Andhra Pradesh in the final round to score 7.5/9 and become the champion. Thus Alana finished second. Nyna Gorli of Andhra Pradesh scored sole 7.0/9 to finish third.

Final Standings

Complete standings

Under-10 open

Both Daaevik Wadhawan of Delhi and Mayank Chakraborty of Assam scored an unbeaten 8.0/9. The game between them also ended up in a draw. According to their TB3 score, Daaevik was declared champion and the newly crowned National under-11 open champion, Mayank had to settle for the runner-up position. Md. Imran of Andhra Pradesh scored a sole 7.5/9 to secure third position.

Early this year, Daaevik secured third position in 8th National Schools in under-11 open. He won Silver in Asian Schools Blitz and Bronze in the Rapid format of the event in under-11 open. He also won Bronze in Commonwealth under-10 open. The Delhi kid won Gold in Western Asia Youth and Junior in under-10 open in Rapid.

Final Standings

Complete standings

Under-10 girls

Sani Deshpande of Maharashtra scored 7.5/9, finished a half point ahead of the competition and won the under-10 girls category. Four girls tied for the second position at 7.0/9 each, however Sachi Jain of Delhi and Hiya Panchal of Gujarat were placed second and third respectively according to their tie-break score.

Three years ago Sani had won National Schools in under-7 girls category. She is also a former Maharashtra State under-7 girls champion. Earlier this year, she was the runner-up in Maharashtra State Schools under-10 girls. Sani finished third in Maharashtra State Junior under-19 girls, a little over a month ago.

Final Standings

Complete standings

Under-12 open

Both Ritvik Krishnan of Maharashtra and Harshit Pawar of Delhi scored an unbeaten 7.5/9. They were placed first and second respectively according to their tie-break score. Sahib Singh of Delhi finished third according to his tie-break by scoring 7.0/9.

Ritvik won Maharashtra State under-13 open early this year and this National Schools Championship is his biggest triumph of his chess career.

Final Standings

Complete standings

Under-12 girls

Kheerthi Ganta of Telangana scored an unbeaten 7.5/9 and finished a half point ahead of the competition to become champion in under-12 girls category. Both Sinthia Sarkar of West Bengal and Jahnavi Sri Lalita Mareddy of Telangana scored 7.0/9 each. They were placed second and third according to their tie-break score.

Kheerthi is a former Telangana State Schools under-11 girls and National Schools under-11 girls champion. She has also won Silver and Bronze in Asian Schools under-11 girls 2018 in Blitz and Classical format respectively. Earlier this year she had won Telangana State Schools under-13 girls. She is also currently Telangana State under-17 girls champion. Kheerthi won Gold and Bronze in Western Asia Youth and Junior under-12 girls in Blitz and Classical format respectively. Days before winning her second National Schools title, she won Telangana State Schools under-12 girls.

Final Standings

Complete standings

Under-14 open

FM Harshad S of Tamil Nadu scored an unbeaten 7.5/9 to become champion. Devesh Anand Naik also scored 7.5/9, however since Harshad beat Devesh in round 6, Harshad had the better tie-break score. Nikam Sudhanshu of Maharashtra scored 7.0/9 to finish at third place according to his tie-break score.

Harshad is a former National Schools under-13 open runner-up. He won XLII Open Internacional de Barberà del Vallès "B" few months ago.

Final Standings

Complete standings

Under-14 girls

Sarayu Velpula of Telangana scored an unbeaten 8.5/9 and finished 1.5 points ahead of the competition to win the championship. Tanvi Vasudev Hadkonkar of Goa scored 7.0/9 to finish second. Tanisha S Boramanikar of Maharashtra scored 6.5/9 and she was placed third according to her tie-break score.

Sarayu is the current Telangana State under-11 and under-13 girls, National under-13 girls champion. She is also a former State under-11 girls champion and National under-11 girls runner-up. Couple of months ago she won Bronze in Western Asia Youth and Junior in both Classical and Rapid format.

Final Standings

Complete standings

Under-16 open

Aryan Abhijeet Shah of Maharashtra scored an unbeaten 8.0/9 and finished a full point ahead of the competition to clinch the championship. This is Aryan's first major championship victory. Kartavya Anadkat scored 7.0/9 to secure the second place. Akshit Kumar J of Andhra Pradesh scored 6.5/9 to finish third according to the tie-break score.

Final Standings

Complete standings

Under-16 girls

Sai Divya M of Andhra Pradesh scored 8.5/9 and finished two full points ahead of the rest of the field to clinch the championship emphatically. WFM Greeshma Anand Dhumal of Maharashtra scored sole 6.5/9 to secure second position. WCM Sanskruti Wankhade of Maharashtra finished at third place with a score of 6.0/9.

Sai Divya M is a former Andhra Pradesh State under-13 girls champion. She is the current State under-15 girls and State Schools under-16 champion. This was her first National championship.

Final Standings

Complete standings

The tournament witnessed a total participation of 1007 players from 25 states including Maharashtra. The Prize Distribution Ceremony was chaired by District Sports Officer Mr. Ashok Giri, Mr. Rajendra Konde, Treasurer, All Marathi Chess Association, Chief Abiter IA Nandakumar NK distributed the various prizes to winners along with Tournament Director Mr. Vijay Deshpande & Dr. Manisha Deshpande.

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Telangana and Maharashtra dominate National School 2019 @ 18/04/2019 by Vasanth B H (en)