World Chess Championship Parallel Chess Events: Mary Ann Gomes wins Women's Grandmaster Chess Open in Chennai

Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013

Hello everyone,

Woman Grandmaster Mary Ann Gomes  has won the WGM Chess Open being organised as a parallel chess event in Chennai along with the Anand - Carlsen World Chess Championship.

Gomes scored 8.5 points and won the title on a superior tie-break score eleven rounds. The tournament was held at the Multipurpose Indoor Stadium, Chennai. The three-way tie also included second seeded WGM Batsiashvili Nino of Georgia and International Master S Vijayalakshmi with 8.5 each. Keti Tsatsalashvili (Georgia) and Sowmya Swaminathan (India) shared the fourth spot jointly with 8.0 points each. (www.chessdom.com)

 WGM Mary Ann Gomes – WGM Keti Tsatsalashvili

Top Final standings:
1 WGM Gomes Mary Ann IND 2414 – 8.5
2 WGM Batsiashvili Nino GEO 2425 – 8.5
3 IM Vijayalakshmi Subbaraman IND 2399 – 8.5
4 WGM Tsatsalashvili Keti GEO 2266 – 8
5 WGM Soumya Swaminathan IND 2348 – 8
6 WGM Swathi Ghate IND 2242 – 7.5
7 WGM Ivakhinova Inna RUS 2315 – 7.5
8 WGM Meenakshi Subbaraman IND 2240 – 7.5
9 WFM Gevorgyan Maria ARM 2147 – 7.5
10 IM Guramishvili Sopiko GEO 2441 – 7.5
11 IM Mohota Nisha IND 2260 – 7.5
12 WGM Ambartsumova Karina RUS 2310 – 7
13 WGM Muminova Nafisa UZB 2280 – 7
14 WGM Kulkarni Bhakti IND 2288 – 7
15 Azimova Karina RUS 2094 – 7
16 Pratyusha Bodda IND 2159 – 7
17 WIM Drljevic Ljilja SRB 2181 – 7
18 Meghna C H IND 1847 – 7
19 Harini S. IND 2023 – 6.5
20 WGM Kiran Manisha Mohanty IND 2237 – 6.5
21 IM Purtseladze Maka GEO 2374 – 6.5
22 WFM Swati Mohota IND 2067 – 6.5
23 WFM Mahalakshmi M IND 2107 – 6.5
24 WIM Kharmunova Nadezhda RUS 2152 – 6.5
25 WFM Tokhirjonova Gulrukhbegim UZB 2111 – 6.5
26 WFM Vaishali R IND 2019 – 6.5
27 WCM Tejaswini Sagar IND 1898 – 6.5
28 Ashwini U IND 1918 – 6.5
29 WFM Saranya J IND 2081 – 6.5
30 Anjana Krishna S IND 1897 – 6.5
31 WFM Monnisha Gk IND 2150 – 6
32 Lasya.G IND 2065 – 6
33 Tan Li Ting MAS 1936 – 6
34 WFM Sultana Zakia BAN 1976 – 6
35 Aparajita Gochhikar IND 1801 – 6
36 WFM Bidhar Rutumbara IND 1749 – 6
37 WIM Hamid Rani BAN 1994 – 6
38 WIM Jennitha Anto K. IND 1961 – 6
39 Priyanka K IND 1717 – 6
40 WFM Srija Seshadri IND 1991 – 6
41 Supriya Joshi IND 1888 – 6
42 WFM Lakshmi C IND 1697 – 6
43 Potluri Saye Srreezza IND 1746 – 6
44 Saughanthika As IND 1639 – 6
45 Harivardhini I IND 1678 – 6
46 Sunyasakta Satpathy IND 1893 – 5.5
47 Priyanka Nutakki IND 1736 – 5.5
48 Anigani Kavya IND 1836 – 5.5
49 Harshita Guddanti IND 1723 – 5.5
50 Vantika Agrawal IND 1728 – 5.5
51 Parnali S Dharia IND 1924 – 5.5
52 Shweta Gole IND 1907 – 5.5
53 Sandhya G IND 1774 – 5.5
54 Raga Jyothsna R IND 1378 – 5.5
55 Tulsi M IND 1549 – 5.5
56 Sunyuktha C M N IND 1677 – 5.5
57 Toshali V IND 1683 – 5.5
58 Divya Garg IND 1774 – 5
59 Pushpalata Mangal IND 1767 – 5
60 Begum Masuda BAN 1862 – 5
61 Khandelwal Khushi IND 1218 – 5
62 Sneha G P S IND 1384 – 5
63 Harshini A IND 1635 – 5
64 Tejasvi M IND 1490 – 5
65 Kavya Srishti K IND 1456 – 5
66 WCM Fernandes Krystal IND 1509 – 5
67 WCM Ananya Suresh IND 1860 – 4.5
68 Kavya. S IND 1516 – 4.5
69 Sowmia A IND 1650 – 4.5
70 Jasper Jothi P IND 1468 – 4.5
71 Jahanara Haque BAN 1669 – 4.5
72 Akshita D IND 1546 – 4.5
73 Thorat Aishwarya IND 1431 – 4.5
74 Lasani H Kothari IND 1211 – 4.5
75 Ahmed Simran IND 1509 – 4.5
76 Kowshika S IND 1321 – 4.5
77 Pooja S (2002) IND 1306 – 4.5
78 Ngangom Nongleima Chanu IND 0 – 4.5
79 Krishnaa Jahagirdar Sudhakar IND 0 – 4
80 Chowdhury Mahmuda Hoque BAN 1766 – 4
81 Srinidhi Sridharan IND 1522 – 4
82 Supriya Shanbhaga IND 1328 – 4
83 Vinotha S IND 1111 – 4
84 Priyadarshini B IND 1254 – 4
85 Abirami B S IND 1315 – 4
86 Malleswari P IND 1217 – 4
87 Yuti Mayur Patel IND 1193 – 4
88 Shivani S IND 1012 – 4
89 Akshayaa M IND 1303 – 3.5
90 Swathi Priyadharshini S IND 0 – 3.5
91 Devi Shree BRN 0 – 3.5
92 Arivukkarasi Loganathan IND 0 – 3
93 Varshini V IND 1966 – 2.5
94 Srimathi R IND 1349 – 2.5
95 Meera D IND 1710 – 2
96 Panjammal N IND 0 – 2
97 Smrithika S IND 0 – 1

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Carlsen and Anand will be Close, Say Participants of Women's Chess Tournament (World Chess Championship Parallel Events)

Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013

Hello everyone,

There are several parallel chess events being held in Chennai alongside the Anand versus Carlsen World Chess Championship 2013. One of these events is a chess tournament for women grandmasters. Here is a nice article from The Hindu by PK Ajith Kumar. 

It will be a close contest!

A year ago in Mexico, Sopiko Guramishvili made chess moves that were Carlsenesque. Well, she was just moving the pieces for Magnus Carlsen, who was playing blindfolded against Judit Polgar at the UNAM chess festival.

Sopiko is now looking forward to watching Carlsen take on Viswanathan Anand in the World title match at the Hyatt Regency here. She is the top seed at the International Woman Grandmaster tournament that kicked off at the Nehru Stadium on Wednesday.

“The Anand-Carlsen match is one of the main reasons I am playing this tournament,” she said. “I think it will be a great match. Yes, Carlsen is very strong, but we shouldn’t forget Anand’s huge experience in playing World title matches.” 

Soumya Swaminathan, Mary Ann Gomes, Nisha Mohota, Ljilja Drljevic (Serbia),Keti (Georgia), Sopiko Guramishvili (Georgia), Nino Batsiashvili (Georgia), Karina Ambartsumova (Russia) and Maka (Georgia) before the start of the Women's International Grandmasters tournament. Photo: K. Pichumani

Karina Ambartsumova of Russia too feels it would be a close match. “Contrary to what many experts say, it certainly won’t be easy for Carlsen,” she said. “I think the chances are 50-50.”

Ljilja Drljevic of Serbia is a big Carlsen fan, but she too doesn’t think it will be easy for him.

“It will be a great match and I am happy that I will be able to watch it,” she said, sounding particularly cheerful for someone who has lost her complete luggage while reaching Chennai.

“I have been to India before and the purpose of this visit is purely the World title match.”

Ljilja may be cheering for Carlsen, but there will be no lack of supporters for Anand from among the WGMs. The Indians are here in large numbers, led by reigning National champion Mary Ann Gomes. “I want Anand to win,” she said. “And I know he can.”

Her fellow-Kolkatan Nisha Mohota too is excited about the match. “I am here to witness history,” she said. “I expect amazing chess.”

Soumya Swaminathan, a former World junior champion, said Anand would be even more motivated because he is playing at home.

“We all will be cheering for Anand,” she said. “It is great we are hosting a match of such magnitude.”

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Indian Women's Chess Championship 2013: Mary Ann Gomes wins Third Title

Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013

Hi everyone, 

Kolkata, September 5: Local favourite Mary Ann Gomes pipped Tania Sachdev and Soumya Swaminathan with a better tie-breaking score to clinch a hat-trick of titles in the 40th Indian Women’s National Premier Chess Championship on Thursday.

It was heartbreak for overnight leader Soumya as she lost to Padmini Rout in the final round to slip to third, while top seed Tania Sachdev who had suffered early losses finished second with six points from last seven rounds.

Mary Ann, who was on second spot, settled for a hard-fought draw against Ivana Maria Furtado and the result was enough to earn a third national title in a row.

Mary Ann, Tania and Soumya were locked on 7.5 points but the local girl had a better tie-breaking score (40.5) to pocket a prize purse of INR 1.75 lakh.

Subbaraman Vijayalaxmi had won the National women’s title five times in a row (1998-2002), while Rohini Khadilkar had won thrice in 1976, 1977 and 1979 — there was no championship in 1978.

Playing 14-year-old Ivana of Goa, Mary Ann found herself in an inferior position in a King’s Indian attack.

But Ivana was equally nervous as she offered a draw despite being a piece ahead on the 25th move and Mary Ann promptly accepted.

Odisha’s Padmini cleared the deck for Mary Ann later by outplaying the overnight leader Soumya, who was in tears after her loss.

Padmini, who had blundered last evening against Michelle Catherina, showed remarkable cool in handling a queen and rook ending and later converting her superior position into a winning rook and pawn ending to finish fourth.

The find of the championship was clearly the National junior girls champion, Ivana, who in her maiden National Premier gained 24 Elo points, while Bhakti Kulkarni lost 26 Elo points. (www.indianchessnews.com)
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GM Nils Grandelius Wins 2nd Golden Sands Chess Open 2013

12th Women's World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk's Chess Blog for Latest Chess News and Trivia (c) 2013

Hi everyone, 

Swedish Grandmaster Nils Grandelius has won the 2nd Golden Sands open tournament that was held 10-18th June in the Bulgarian sea resort Golden Sands. Grandelius defeated Indian GM Arun Prasad in the last round to complete the tournament with 7,5/9 points. Vladislav Nevednichy and MR Venkatesh were also victorious to catch Zbynek Hracek and Vladimir Georgiev in shared second place. WGM Mary Ann Gomes was the best placed woman with 6,5 points. (Chessdom.com) Final standing in the extended post.




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Asian Chess: Huang Qian Wins Continental Women's Championship 2013

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013

Hi everyone, 

The 2013 Asian Continental Chess Championship for Women was held on 18-26th May in Manila, Philippines. The tournament was organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines and Eugene Torre Chess Foundation, Inc. A total of 40 players from 9 countries took participation, among them 12 WGMs, 2 IMs and 9 WIMs, according to a Chessdom report.

It was an exciting race between Huang Qian and Tan Zhongyi, both from China, who finally finished the tournament on 7,0/9 points each. However, Huang Qian took the title of Asian champion on better tie-break and qualified for the next Women’s World Chess Championship.

The third place at the chess championship went to WGM Mary Ann Gomes from India who stood her ground among the Chinese players to claim clear third place with 6,5/9 and take the bronze medal. Gomes also jumped over 2400 elo and finally fulfilled requirements for IM title.

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New Chess Event in India for Women: Elisabeth Paehtz Top Seed at AICF-KIIT Round-Robin

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013

Hi everyone, 

Top seed Elizabeth Paehtz of Germany. Find lots of great photos of the world's best chess players at www.chesspics.com.

Former World Junior Girls’ champion Elisabeth Paehtz of Germany is the top seed at the round-robin women's chess tournament that begins in the South Indian city of Bhubaneshwar on March 17. The AICF-KIIT Chess Cup is India's strongest-ever women's closed chess tournament with a prize fund of about $15,000. Elina Danilian and Lilit Mkrtchian of Armenia, Olga Girya of Russia, Cristina Foisor of France and reigning world junior girls’ champion Guo Qi of China are the other non-Indian players in the event. The Indian players include national women’s champion Mary Ann Gomes, Padmini Rout, Kiran Manisha Mohanty, Nisha Mohota, Eesha Karavade and Swati Ghate.

The tournament will be played on a round-robin basis and the drawing of lots will be done during the opening ceremony. There will be eleven rounds in all under FIDE’s standard time control between twelve players. The AICF-KIIT cup is aimed at providing top level opposition for Indian women chess players. 

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Mary Ann Gomes Retains Indian National Chess Title

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

Mary Ann Gomes has won the Indian national women's chess title for the second time at the event running from Premier title at the event running from October 22 to November 3 and was sponsored by the Jain Group and organised smoothly by the Jalgaon District Chess Association and the Jain Sport Academy.

Mary Ann Gomes who dedicated her first title at Chennai last year to her mother had the best of tie-break after four players tied for first on 7.5 points. She suffered a defeat to Swati Ghate and bounced back very well. She won the last two games to retain her title. After nine rounds she looked like she was out of contention for the title race by the leaders slowed down and Mary Ann caught up.

Bhakti Kulkarni of Goa who became a Woman Grandmaster recently finished second. The champion of 2010 Soumya Swaminathan of Pune was third and Eesha Karavade who had never won was fourth. At least seven players were in lead or joint lead after a sole leader emerged. Leaders: Meenakshi 4/4; Swati Ghate 5.5/7; Nisha Mohota, Bhakti Kulkarni 6/8; Bhakti Kulkarni, Eesha Karavade, Soumya Swaminathan 7/10.

Final placings: 1-4. WGM Mary Ann Gomes, WGM Bhakti Kulkarni, WGM Soumya Swaminathan, IM Eesha Karavade 7.5/11; 5-6. WGM Padmini Rout, WGM Kiran Mohanty 7 each; 7-11. IM Nisha Mohota, WGM S Meenakshi, WIM P Priya, S Harini, WFM Chandika Divyasree 6.5 each; 12-13. Bodda Pratyusha, WFM Swati Mohota 6 each; 14-22. WGM Swati Ghate, Nimmy George, Michelle Catherina, WGM Aarthie Ramaswamy, WIM Ivana Furtado, WFM Rucha Pujari, Cholleti Sahajasri, WFM K Sai Nirupama 5.5 each; 23-25. WGM Kruttika Nadig, WFM J Saranya, Shweta Gole 5 each; 26-28. Amruta Mokal, G Lasya, WFM N Raghavi 4.5 each; 29 WIM Bhagyashree Thipsay 4; 30 R Salini 3; 31 J Rajasurya 2.5

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Asian Chess: Parimarjan Negi Wins on Tiebreak; Irene Sukandar Wins Women's Section

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

Here is the latest chess news update from the Asian Continental Chess Championships that have concluded in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. Indian Grandmaster Parimarjan Negi has won the Asian continental chess championship despite his final round loss to A R Saleh Salem of UAE. 

 

Negi finished the tournament with 7 points and tied for the first place with Yu Yangyi of China. But in their direct encounter earlier in the championship, Negi had beaten Yangyi, which helped him win the gold medal.

Meanwhile, the Indian leader in the women's section, Mary Ann Gomes lost out on the gold by losing to Tan Zhongyi of China. A draw would have been enough for her to give the Indians a double. Irine Sukandar Kharisma of Indonesia won the women's section. For the record, in the men's section, Yangyi finished second, repeating his performance from last year and the third spot was bagged by Saleh on 6.5 points. In the women's section, Tan Zhongyi finished third.

Results final round open: A R Salem Saleh (Uae, 6.5) beat Parimarjan Negi (7); Le Quang Liem (Vie, 5.5) drew with Yu Yangyi (Chn, 7); Vidit Santosh Gujrathi (5.5) drew with John Paul Gomez (Phi, 5.5); Xiu Deshun (Chn, 5.5) drew with M R Venkatesh (5.5); Wen Yang (Chn, 6) beat G N Gopal (4.5); Nguyen Duc Hoa (Vie, 5) beat Abhijeet Gupta (4); B Adhiban (5) beat Farid Firman Syah (Ina, 4); Nezad Husein Aziz (Qat, 4.5) drew with S P Sethuraman (4); Deepan Chakkravarthy (4) drew ith Le Quang Long (Vie, 4); Tran Tuan Minh (Vie, 3.5) drew with N Srinath (3.5).

Women's section: Tan Zhongyi (Chn, 6.5) beat Mary Ann Gomes (6.5); Irine Sukandar Kharisma (Ina, 7) beat Eesha Karavade (5.5); Padmini Rout (5.5) lost to Wang Jue (Chn, 6.5); Le Thanh Tu (Vie, 5.5) lost to Ding Yixin (Chn, 6.5); Pham Le Thao Nguyen (vie, 5) drew with Tania Sachdev (5); Guo Qi (Chn, 5.5) beat Swathi Ghate (4.5); Ni Shiqun (Chn, 5) drew with Nisha Mohota (5); Nguyen Thi Mai Hung (Vie, 3.5) lost to B Pratyusha (4.5); Kiran Manisha Mohanty (4.5) had a bye.

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WGM Mary Ann Gomes needs draw in last round to win Indian national women's chess championship

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011

Hi everyone,

The chess news from Chennai, India, where the Indian national chess championship is in its penultimate - the tenth round - is that Woman Grandmaster Mary Ann Gomes held on to her lead with a draw against International Master Eesha Karavade. This is the 38th edition of the event. Gomes continues to lead with 7.5 points and has a superior tie-break. She needs just a draw in the final round tomorrow against Kiran Manisha Mohanty to clinch the coveted title. The second place is shared by IM Eesha Karavade of Maharashtra and WGM Padmini Rout of Orissa at 7 points each. Gomes actually had a win lined up but she surprised her opponent by going for a draw. 

Gomes has two IM Norms to her credit, the first one coming from Paris Open 2009 at France and the second one from Czech Open 2010 at Pardubice, Czech Republic. She would now need to fulfill the rating requirement of ELO 2400, after which she would be awarded the title of International Master.

The second and third boards saw higher rated players viz, Padmini Rout and Tania Sachdev escape defeat narrowly against Kiran Manisha Mohanty and Chandika Divyasree respectively. The latter got her maiden Woman International Master with the draw. 

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Indian national women's chess championship R9: WGM Mary Ann Gomes takes sole lead

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011

Hi everyone,

WGM Mary Ann Gomes

WGM Mary Ann Gomes defeated International Master Nisha Mohota to move into sole lead after the ninth round of the Velammal 38th Indian Women's National Premier chess championship on Monday.

Mary Ann leads the table with 7.0 points followed by WGMs Padmini Rout (Orissa) and Eesha Karavade (Maharashtra) at 6.5 points each. Top seed Tania Sachdev's defeat on the top board pushed her to the fourth spot with 6.0 points.

Eesha is coming back to form as she recorded her fourth win in succession. Facing Tania in the top board with black pieces, Eesha's bold tactics paid quick dividend.

The Nimzo Indian game saw Eesha achieving equality, and surprise Tania with an early pawn sacrifice. Picking up the extra pawn didn't help Tania as she found herself in further middle game complication.

With just under seven minutes to complete her last twenty moves, Tania erred, helping Eesha gain advantage and the game in 26 moves.

Talented Pratyusha Bodda drew a hard fought exchange down game against veteran Sai Meera and completed her second Woman International Master Norm. Her first WIM Norm also came in the National Women Premier last year.

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