SIDDHANT Gawai of Nagpur is having a dream run in the 17th GH Raisoni Memorial International FIDE Rating Open Chess Tournament. The city 17-year-old stunned two seeded players to sit on the top of the table. With seven points out of seven, the city chess players has emerged as the sole leader on Wednesday. Two other players, Kolla Bhawan of Andhra Pradesh and Vaibhav Borse of Maharashtra, follow Gawai with 6.5 points. Gawai had spectacular back to back wins against top seed IM Anwesh Upadhayay and second Seed FM Sauravh Kherdekar in 6th and 7th round respectively.

 

In the seventh round, second seed FM Kherdekar employed Sicilian Defence against the King Pawn opening of Gawai.

Gawai castled his King on Queenside and was having an edge. Sauravh tried to attack against the white king but Gawai refuted well to score a stunning win in just 25 moves. Earlier in the sixth round, Gawai had defeated top seed IM Anwesh Upadhyaya on top board. In an irregular opening Gawai did not allow Anwesh to take advantage and won the game in 59 moves. In the seventh round 4th seed Kolla Bhavan scored win over Sai Sharma of Nagpur whereas Vaibhav Borse toppled 5th seed Sanjeev Mishra of Maharashtra.

 

The event is organised by GH Raisoni Sport and Cultural Foundation and Kalpana Prakash Welfare Foundation and is recognised by Chess Association Nagpur, Maharashtra Chess Association, AICF and FIDE. IA Ajinkya Pingle is the chief arbiter of the event and is being assisted by FA Sonal Tambi, FA Amit Tembhurne, FA Bharti Dhote, SNA Sham Agrawal, SNA Sagar Sakhare, SNA Prayas Ambade, Prathamesh Machave and Shishir Indurkar.