15th AICFB National R1-2: 1446-rated Somender stuns top seed Darpan Inani

by Shahid Ahmed - 06/04/2022

19-year-old Somender B L (DEL) defeated the top seed of the tournament, Darpan Inani (GUJ) in Round 2 of SAVA Herbals 15th AICFB National Chess Championship for Visually Challenged 2022-23. Another Delhite, Satya Praksah Shrivastava won against sixth seeded veteran, Krishna Udupa (KAR). Six-time consecutive AICFB National champion, Kishan Gangolli, Aryan Joshi, Subhendu Kumar Patra, Soundarya Kumar Pradhan, Ashvin K Makwana and K Marimuthu are among the dozen players who made an unbeaten start 2.0/2. 55 selected players are taking part to become 'National Blind Chess Champion 2022'. Round 3 starts today at 9:00 a.m. IST. Photo: IA Manjunatha M

A dozen players at 2.0/2

A total of 55 players have been selected to take part in this prestigious championship on the basis of their performance in State and Zonal championships. Players who have represented India in the world are also taking part in this event. This tournament is the final level of selection process for which players will be selected for Indian team in the upcoming IBCA World Team Championship and Olympiad.

Somender B L scored a big upset against the top seed and one of the tournament favorites, Darpan Inani | Photo: IA Manjunatha M

Round 2: Darpan - Somender: 0-1

Darpan Inani (2124) moved his queenside rook incorrectly which cost him valuable time against Somender B L (1446).

Position after 24.Ra4

24.Ra4 allowed Black to improve his position 24...Qd6 25.Nd2 Nd4 26.Nc4 Qc5 27.a6 Rb8 28.Ra5 Rb5. White did manage to get rid of his displaced rook 29.Rxb5 Qxb5. After a lot of back and forth play, Black eventually won the game when White allowed a queen exchange, resulting in a winning a pawn endgame. Darpan resigned immediately when he realized his opponent could force the queen exchange.

Aryan Joshi's instructive rook endgame against Shidad | Video: ChessBase India

Inaugural first move is being made | Photo: IA Manjunatha M

Rotary Club Pune Heritage officials with the tournament organizers | Photo: IA Manjunatha M

Mr. Aravind Ogale (Rotary Club of Pune Heritage), Mr. Kapoor (Sava Herbals), Mr. Pankaj Shah (District Governor Rotary Club of Pune Heritage), Mr. Vikas Khatkar (President Maharashtra Cricket Association), Mr. Vinayak Pethe (President Rotarty Club of Pune Heritage), Dr. Manish Thool (Secretary AICFB), Mr. Kumar Thamane (President PYC Hindu Gymkhana) were present at the inauguration ceremony.

Six-time consecutive AICFB National champion, Kishan Gangolli won his first two games 2.0/2 | Photo:IA Manjunatha M

The tournament hall | Photo:IA Manjunatha M

For more Round 1 and Round 2 photos, please click at the respective links.

A total of 55 players are taking part from various states across India. The tournament is organized by All India Chess Federation for the Blind (AICFB) from 5th to 9th April 2022 at PYC Hindu Gymkhana, Pune. The nine-round Swiss league tournament has a time control of 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move no.1. There are double rounds every day from 5th to 8th April. Last day 9th April 2022, there will be one round.

Replay Round 1-2 games

Round 2 results

Bo.	No.	Name	Rtg	Club/City	Pts.	Result	Pts.	Name	Rtg	Club/City	No.
1	1	Darpan Inani	2124	GUJ	1	0 - 1	1	Somender B L	1446	DEL	18
2	19	Bagayatkar Madan	1443	MAH	1	0 - 1	1	Kishan Gangolli	2113	KAR	2
3	3	Aryan B Joshi	1909	MAH	1	1 - 0	1	Shidad M	1432	KER	21
4	23	Rakesh Narwal	1393	HAR	1	0 - 1	1	Patra Subhendu Kumar	1783	ORI	4
5	5	Soundarya Kumar Pradhan	1749	ORI	1	1 - 0	1	Hariharan Gandhi	1399	T N	22
6	25	Satya Praksah Shrivastava	1388	DEL	1	1 - 0	1	Krishna Udupa	1733	KAR	6
7	7	Makwana Ashvin K	1729	GUJ	1	1 - 0	1	Shambhu Kumar Roy	1391	BIH	24
8	9	Samant Milind	1670	MAH	1	1 - 0	1	Dibakar Pal	1379	W B	26
9	27	Ganesh Kisku	1374	W B	1	0 - 1	1	Marimuthu K	1586	T N	12
10	13	Shashidhar K M	1547	KAR	1	1 - 0	1	Rafik S	1140	T N	44

Details

Round 3 pairings

Bo.	No.	Name	Rtg	Club/City	Pts.	Result	Pts.	Name	Rtg	Club/City	No.
1	2	Kishan Gangolli	2113	KAR	2		2	Shashidhar K M	1547	KAR	13
2	12	Marimuthu K	1586	T N	2		2	Aryan B Joshi	1909	MAH	3
3	4	Patra Subhendu Kumar	1783	ORI	2		2	Vijay Karia	1482	GUJ	15
4	18	Somender B L	1446	DEL	2		2	Soundarya Kumar Pradhan	1749	ORI	5
5	25	Satya Praksah Shrivastava	1388	DEL	2		2	Makwana Ashvin K	1729	GUJ	7
6	35	Gopi R	1242	T N	2		2	Samant Milind	1670	MAH	9
7	10	Prachurya Kumar Pradhan	1630	ORI	1½		1½	Swapanil Shah	1622	MAH	11
8	32	Singh Surypratap	1288	M P	1		1	Darpan Inani	2124	GUJ	1
9	6	Krishna Udupa	1733	KAR	1		1	Madhukesh Ram	1243	MAH	34
10	8	Patel Darshan	1680	GUJ	1		1	Suryakant Raut	1285	MAH	33

Details

Links

Tournament Info

AICFB official site

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