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Dubai 2020 World School: Velammal Nexus tops Group A

by Shahid Ahmed - 27/11/2021

Velammal Nexus stormed into the Knockout stage by completely mowing the competition in Group A of Dubai 2020 World School Tournament. They topped the Group by winning all five of their games finishing with 100% score of 15.0/15. Saco Oliveros (PER) secured second place 13.0/15. Gujarat State Chess Association scored 11.0/15 to finish third in the same group and advance to the Knockout stage. Velammal Nexus and GSCA are the only two Indian teams in the KO stage, with the former being the star-studded tournament favorite. Mongolia is the only other country to have two teams qualified in the Knockout stage. Photo: Patricia Claros Aguilar 

Gujarat State Chess Association also advances to the KO stage

A total of 81 children from ten countries - Czech Republic, Hungary, India, Israel, Mongolia, Peru, Spain, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and United States of America are taking part in the Final stage. Total 12 teams will play in the Knockout phase. The almost yearlong tournament witnessed the participation of over 2600 children from 54 countries across the world.

Velammal Nexus team | Photo: Patricia Claros Aguilar

Greatest female chess player of all time Judit Polgar with world champion and world no.1 Magnus Carlsen, before the first game | Photo: Patricia Claros Aguilar

Velammal Nexus topped the Group A with 100% score of 15.0/15. D Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa and Leon Luke Mendonca are at 100% score 5.0/5, 5.0/5 and 4.0/4 each, IM Pranav V, Rindhiya V and CM Mrithyunjay Mahadevan contributed a valuable 2.5/4, 3.0/5 and 2.0/2 each respectively.

Top 3 boards of Velammal Nexus are at 100% score

Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa and Leon - The spearheads of Velammal Nexus team | Photo: Patricia Claros Aguilar

IM Pranav V, Rindhiya V and CM Mrithyunjay Mahadevan ensure the team has a solid depth | Photo: Patricia Claros Aguilar

The only other Indian team to advance to the knockout stage is Gujarat State Chess Association. The team finished third in the same group with a score 11.0/15. WFM Dhyana Patel is the top scorer of the team 4.5/5, followed by Vrandesh Parekh 4.0/5 and Swayham P Das 2.5/3.

WFM Dhyana Patel is the top scorer of her team, followed by Vrandesh Parekh and Swayham P Das

WFM Dhyana Patel is the top scorer of the team 4.5/5 | Photo: Patricia Claros Aguilar

Vrandesh Parekh scored 4.0/5, en route his victory over Yesun Lee of Mission San Jose Hopkins Junior, USA | Photo: Patricia Claros Aguilar

12-year-old Swayham P Das scored an unbeaten 2.5/3 in the Group stage | Photo: Patricia Claros Aguilar

Judit Polgar made the inaugural first move | Photo: Patricia Claros Aguilar

A wide-angle view of the tournament hall at the Spanish Pavillion of Dubai Expo 2020 | Photo: Patricia Claros Aguilar

The time control is 20 minutes each + 10 seconds each. The Preliminary phase took place between 10th December 2020 to 5th March 2021. Qualifying stage was held from 6th March to 30th April 2021. Semifinals were held between 1st May and 18th June 2021. Until now, all stages were played online at chess24 platform. Now the Finals are being held at the Spanish Pavillion in Dubai Expo 2020 between 25th and 29th November 2021.

Replay Group A games

Replay Group B games

Group A standings

Rk.SNoTeamGames  +   =   -  TB1  TB2 
16Velammal Nexus55001521,5
21Saco Oliveros54011319,0
34Gujarat State Chess Association53021115,0
43EDM Torrelavega520399,0
55Mission San Jose Hopkins Junior510479,5
62Al Ain Culture & Chess Club500551,0

Details

Group B standings

Rk.SNoTeamGames  +   =   -  TB1  TB2 
1133rd Secondary School54101416,5
25School #154011319,5
33Gymnazium Petra Bezruce5203910,0
42Istanbul Erkek Lisesi Team520399,0
56Green Village Chess Academy5113810,0
64Csanyi Alapitvany Gyermekekert5104710,0

Details

Links

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