Top-seeded IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul from Mongolia lived up to her billing to claim the top honours in the SBI Life-AICF Women Grandmaster Chess Championship, jointly organized by the Indian Chess School & South Mumbai Chess Academy under the auspices of All India Chess Federation (AICF) and played at The Acres Club, Chembur.
Mongolian IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul (2nd from right) receives the winner’s Trophy and cash prize of Rs 1.60 lakhs during the prize distribution function of the SBI Life-AICF Women Grandmaster Chess Championship.
The 30-year-old Batkhuyag (ELO 2410), who was in second position at the end of the 10th and penultimate round, scored a decisive win against Russian WIM Elena Tomilova (ELO 2334) in the final round.
The Mongolian finished with a winning tally of eight points after overnight leader Kazakhstan’s WGM Guliskhan Nakhbayeva (ELO 2323) slipped at the last hurdle, losing to talented Indian WIM Srija Seshadri (ELO 2207). The 26-year-old Guliskhan with 7.5 points in the kitty had to settle for second place.
The Tamil Nadu player Srija churned out another fine performance to defeat the higher rated Kazak player and with a cumulative tally of seven points to finish a creditable third.
Vietnam’s WGM Thi Kim Phung Vo (ELO 2376), who was held to a draw by Indian WIM Vantika Agrawal (ELO 2279) was placed fourth, also with 7 points.
WIM Aakanksha Hagawane 6,5 points, WIM Vantika Agrawal and Monnisha G.K., both with 5,5 points each finished in fifth, sixth and seventh positions respectively.
Batkhuyag was presented with the winner’s purse of Rs 1.60 lakhs, while Guliskhan had to be content with the runner-up prize of Rs 1.30 lakhs. The Indian girl Srija earned a cash prize of Rs one lakh.
Chief Guests, Sivaramakrishna, Regional Director of SBI Life and Neela Parikh, Director of The Acres Club and Nagesh Guttula, CEO of South Mumbai Chess Academy, presented the cash awards and other mementos to the players.
Results – Round 10: WIM Elena Tomilova (RUS, 2334) 5 pts beat WFM Divya Deshmukh (IND, 2138) 2.5 pts;
WGM Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova (UZB, 2379) 5.5 pts drew with WIM Aakanksha Hagawane (IND, 2297) 6 pts;
WGM Thi Kim Phung Vo (VIE, 2376) 6.5 pts beat WIM Vantika Agrawal (IND, 2279) 4.5 pts;
IM Anna Zozulia (BEL, 2314) 4.5 pts lost to WIM Monnisha G.K. (IND, 2295) 5 pts;
Rakshitta Ravi (IND, 2067) 0 pts lost to WIM Srija Seshadri (IND, 2207) 6 pts;
WGM Guliskhan Nakhbayeva (KAZ, 2323) 7.5 pts drew with IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul (MGL, ELO 2410) 7 pts.
Results – Round 11: IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul (MGL, ELO 2410) 8 pts beat WIM Elena Tomilova (RUS, 2334) 5 pts;
WIM Srija Seshadri (IND, 2207) 7 pts beat WGM Guliskhan Nakhbayeva (KAZ, 2323) 7.5 pts;
WIM Monnisha G.K. (IND, 2295) 5.5 pts drew with Rakshitta Ravi (IND, 2067) 0.5 pts;
WIM Vantika Agrawal (IND, 2279) 5.5 pts beat IM Anna Zozulia (BEL, 2314) 4.5 pts;
WIM Aakanksha Hagawane (IND, 2297) 6.5 pts drew with WGM Thi Kim Phung Vo (VIE, 2376) 7 pts;
WFM Divya Deshmukh (IND, 2138) 3.5 pts beat WGM Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova (UZB, 2379) 5.5 pts.
The final standings:
1. IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul (MGL, ELO 2410) 8 pts, 2. WGM Guliskhan Nakhbayeva (KAZ, 2323) 7.5 pts, 3. WIM Srija Seshadri (IND, 2207) 7 pts, 4. WGM Thi Kim Phung Vo (VIE, 2376) 7 pts, 5. WIM Aakanksha Hagawane (IND, 2297) 6.5 pts, 6. WIM Vantika Agrawal (IND, 2279) 5.5 pts, 7. WIM Monnisha G.K. (IND, 2295) 5.5 pts, 8. WGM Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova (UZB, 2379) 5.5 pts, 9. WIM Elena Tomilova (RUS, 2334) 5 pts, 10. IM Anna Zozulia (BEL, 2314) 4.5 pts, 11. WFM Divya Deshmukh (IND, 2138) 3.5 pts, 12. Rakshitta Ravi (IND, 2067) 0.5 pts.