Satheesh wins Chalakudy Chess Academy Below 1600 Rating Tournament 2023
Satheesh M scored an unbeaten 8.5/9 to win Chalakudy Chess Academy Below 1600 Rating Tournament 2023. He finished a half point ahead of the field and also defeated the eventual runner-up. 12-year-old Sayanth Krishna scored 8/9 to finish second. He gained a massive 150 Elo rating points. 14-year-old Sidharth Mohan and Jos Paul Davis scored 7.5/9 each. They were placed third and fourth according to tie-breaks. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹300000. Top three prizes were ₹25000, ₹15000 and ₹10000 along with a trophy each. A total of 382 players participated in this three-day nine-round Swiss League Rating tournament organized Chalakudy Chess Academy in Thrissur, Kerala from 10th to 12th February 2023. Photo: Vipin Vijayan/Chalakudy Chess Academy
Satheesh's first rating tournament victory
Satheesh M had won only one non-rated tournament in November 2022. Less than two months later, he won his first rating tournament at this event. Despite a draw in the second round, he chained seven wins in-a-row to win the tournament. In the penultimate round, he defeated the eventual runner-up, Sayanth Krishna to get into the sole lead 7.5/8. Then he won against Joju K V in the final round to become a clear winner 8.5/9. The remaining two podium finishers are less than 14-years-old. They both finished a half point apart. Hence tie-breaks did not come into question.
A total of 382 players participated from various states across India and one from Sri Lanka in this three-day nine-round Swiss League Rating tournament. The tournament was organized by Chalakudi Chess Academy from 10th to 12th February 2023 at SNDP Hall in Thrissur, Kerala. The time control for the event was 30 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move no.1.
Final standings
| Rk. | SNo | Name | Gr | FED | Rtg | Pts. | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 | |
| 1 | 10 | Satheesh M | IND | 1492 | 8,5 | 48,5 | 52,5 | 50,75 | ||
| 2 | 52 | Sayanth Krishna | IND | 1335 | 8 | 53 | 55,5 | 47,00 | ||
| 3 | 18 | Sidharth Mohan | IND | 1444 | 7,5 | 49 | 53,5 | 44,50 | ||
| 4 | 31 | Jos Paul Davis | IND | 1398 | 7,5 | 43 | 47 | 40,75 | ||
| 5 | 40 | Sajan C.T. | IND | 1370 | 7 | 52 | 56 | 41,25 | ||
| 6 | 25 | Rahul V S | IND | 1419 | 7 | 52 | 56 | 39,50 | ||
| 7 | 9 | Ebin Benny | IND | 1495 | 7 | 51 | 55 | 40,50 | ||
| 8 | 126 | AFM | Ishaan K Sibin | IND | 1203 | 7 | 50 | 54 | 37,25 | |
| 9 | 76 | Niranjana N | IND | 1289 | 7 | 50 | 53,5 | 40,25 | ||
| 10 | 69 | Shree Hari Palaniappa S | IND | 1303 | 7 | 49,5 | 51,5 | 37,75 | ||
| 11 | 35 | Bhuvanesh G | IND | 1385 | 7 | 49 | 53 | 38,00 | ||
| 12 | 26 | Joju K V | IND | 1413 | 7 | 47,5 | 51 | 37,50 | ||
| 13 | 33 | Lakshmanan K A | IND | 1395 | 7 | 47 | 51 | 37,00 | ||
| 14 | 4 | Prince Mundakayam | IND | 1540 | 7 | 46,5 | 51 | 36,50 | ||
| 15 | 38 | Karthik P | IND | 1371 | 7 | 46 | 49,5 | 36,25 | ||
| 16 | 93 | Imran Hussain | IND | 1258 | 7 | 45,5 | 48 | 36,00 | ||
| 17 | 45 | Dhruv S Nair | IND | 1358 | 7 | 43,5 | 48 | 35,75 | ||
| 18 | 14 | Gopinath P | IND | 1484 | 7 | 41 | 44,5 | 33,50 | ||
| 19 | 11 | Sandeep Santhosh | IND | 1489 | 6,5 | 49,5 | 53,5 | 36,25 | ||
| 20 | 3 | Dhrikshu K Vasant | IND | 1546 | 6,5 | 49 | 53,5 | 37,50 |
