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You can etransfer to Henry Lam at chesstalkforum at gmail dot com
Transfér à Henry Lam à chesstalkforum@gmail.com
Dark Knight / Le Chevalier Noir
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---- Nous avons besoin d'un traduction français!
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Standard Price ends this Fri - Grandpri-3 Sat May 31st Regular Rated
Dear All,
The excitement is building! The accumulated Super Grandprix Finals Fund continues to grow, and each section offers Top 6 placements – make sure you're in the running!
⏳ Only two days left before the Standard Price period ends – register as soon as possible to secure your spot at the best rate.
Planning to play more tournaments? Don’t forget to take advantage of the Multi-Tournament Registration Option to save on overall costs.
GP-3 Open Section: A Tough Battle and a Family Affair
The Open Section in GP-3 proved to be a demanding challenge, culminating in a dramatic finish as the top two seeds tied for first place, sharing the prize money. It was a proud moment for the Chakkoli family, as the event turned into a showcase of their talent and resilience.
Top seed Anirud Chakkoli delivered a strong performance but faced serious resistance from veteran Sreekumar Maliekal. Their encounter was tightly contested, especially under acute time pressure. Despite some inaccuracies in the endgame, Anirud managed to edge out a win after a nerve-wracking battle.
Second seed Shiva Chakkoli also had his share of tense moments, this time against a rising star — 10-year-old Gayathri Sreekumar, the 2024 Canada National Bronze Medalist. Their game extended to nearly 60 moves over two hours, with Shiva pressing a slight edge — a pawn up in a Knight vs Bishop endgame. However, the game turned on a tactical miscalculation by Gayathri under time pressure, allowing Shiva to secure the full point.
The encounter held special meaning for Shiva, who had previously coached Team Canada at the 32nd Pan-American Youth Chess Championship in Uruguay (July 2022), where Gayathri was a team member. Their meeting on the board was a testament to how far both coach and student have come.
This tournament also marks the third GP victory for the father-son duo, Shiva and Anirud Chakkoli — an exceptional achievement and a proud moment for the family.
Updates on EM-June 7th - GP-4 GP-4 Tournament Summary
Open Section: Sanal Kumar Nikul Maintains Top Spot
A huge thanks to the Father-Son duo, Nikul and Siddharth, who made the long trip from Brampton. With a key player dropping out and with just an hour before the event, their timely participation ensured the Open Section proceeded smoothly and competitively.
The Open Section featured four players — two rated (~1800) and two unrated — engaging in some hard-fought battles over the board.
Champion: Sanal Kumar Nikul (3.5/4) Top-seed Nikul lived up to expectations, finishing undefeated. Though he was held to a draw in the first round by Ryan, he showcased strong, accurate play in all subsequent games. Both Brian and Harshel gave him serious resistance, with Harshel getting promising positions in both games before faltering due to a few key mistakes.
Runner-up: Ryan Were (3/4) Ryan was the revelation of the tournament. Drawing the top seed and defeating second-seeded Brian, he finished just behind Nikul. In his game against Brian, Ryan reached a drawn pawn endgame but a late miscalculation by Brian got him a point.
Third Place: Brian Macleod (1/4) Brian had a tough tournament with closely contested games throughout. Despite his efforts, he couldn’t convert promising positions into full points and had to settle for third.
U1200 Section: Siddharth Nikul Dominates!
Champion: Siddharth Nikul (5/6) Siddharth had a rocky start, losing his first game to Kayra. But he bounced back immediately, winning the return game and sweeping his matches against all other players. His comeback and consistency made him a worthy champion.
Runner-up: Kayra (3/6) After his early win against Siddharth and got a reverse, Kayra drew the rest of his games, showing solid defensive skills to secure second place.
Bronze: Mikail & Mayank (2/6) Mayank had the edge in their first encounter, but Mikail struck back in the rematch. With one win each and couple of draws, both shared third place honors.
Special Mention: Siddharth's comeback after the initial loss and his careful, methodical play thereafter was a highlight of the U1200 section.
Details and calculations can be found under the G, H columns in the June 7th Result File. The Details and Calculations under the G, H columns June 7th Result File here
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