Australian IM Rishi Sardana (ELO 2398) snatched a significant win over Indian IM Al Muthaiah (2408) in a ninth and concluding round game on Monday night. The win proved crucial, as it helped the Australian emerge champion of the EKA | IIFL Investment Managers 4th Mumbai International Chess Tournament 2018, which was organized under the auspices of Mumbai City District Chess Association and All India chess federation by ACT, SMCA and Indian Chess School and played at World Trade Centre, Cuffe Parade.
Champion Rishi Sardana (Australia), runner-up GM Tran Tuan Minh (Vietnam), GM Abhishek Puranik (Indian), with guests Ronak Sheth, D.V. Sunder and Bharat Singh, at the Prize Distribution function of the 4th Mumbai International Chess Tournament 2018.
The 22-year-old Rishi, finished with seven points the same as the three overnight leaders, Vietnamese GM Tran Tuan Minh (2524), and two Indians GM Abhimanyu Puranik (2544) and young talent IM D Gukesh (2466), who all drew their final games. The Vietnam Grandmaster was held to a draw by the 12-year-old Indian lad Gukesh and Puranik shared honours with Russian GM Ivan Rozum (2589) as they played out a draw.
However, Rishi was declared winner on the basis of a better tie-break score of 47.0 as compared to 46.5 for GM Tran Tuan Minh and 43.5 for both Puranik and Gukesh, who finished third and fourth respectively.
In the final game, Rishi was engaged in a tense battle with the 19-year-old Muthaiah before pulling through to victory in 72 moves on the fourth board.
Rishi was presented with a glittering trophy and a cash prize of Rs 3,25,000.
Results – final Round 9 (top 10 boards):
IM Gukesh D. (IND, 2466) 7 drew GM Tran Tuan Minh (VIE, 2524) 7.
GM Abhimanyu Puranik (IND, 2544) 7 drew GM Ivan Rozum (RUS, 2589) 6.5.
IM Visakh N.R. (IND, 2491) 6.5 drew GM Laxman R.R. (IND, 2436) 6.5.
IM Rishi Sardana (AUS, 2398) 7 beat IM Al Muthaiah (IND, 2408) 6.
GM Ziaur Rahman (BAN, 2468) 6.5 drew GM Kirill Stupak (BLR, 2557) 6.
GM Sandipan Chanda (IND, 2555) 5.5 lost IM P. Shyaamnikhil (IND, 2448) 6.5.
GM Deepan Chakkravarthy J. (IND, 2550) 6.5 beat GM Lugovskoy Maxim (RUS, 2445) 5.5.
GM Andrei Deviatkin (RUS, 2464) 6.5 beat IM Nguyen Van Huy (VIE, 2438) 5.5.
IM Khusenkhojaev Muhammad (TJK, 2455) 6.5 beat Saurabh Anand (IND, 2246) 5.5.
IM Sayantan Das (IND, 2453) 6 drew IM V.A.V. Rajesh (IND, 2402) 6.
Final standings (top-10) after Round 9: 1. IM Rishi Sardana (AUS) 7 points, 2. GM Tran Tuan Minh (VIE) 7, 3. GM Abhimanyu Puranik (IND) 7, 4. IM D. Gukesh (IND) 7, 5. GM Ziaur Rahman (BAN) 6.5, 6. GM Deepan Chakkravarthy J. (IND) 6.5, 7. GM Ivan Rozum (RUS) 6.5, IM Visakh N.R. (IND) 6.5, 9. GM Laxman R.R. (IND) 6.5, 10. IM P. Shyaamnikhil (IND) 6.5.