Defending champion GM Aleksey Grebnev and top seed WIM Anna Shukhman, both of Russia playing under the FIDE flag, topped the Asian Juniors and Girls Rapid Chess Championships, respectively, held 12th October 2024 at the Knights Templar Hotel in Tagaytay City, Philippines.
In above photo are, from left, Chief Arbiter IA Patrick Lee, IM Dau Khuong Duy of Vietnam (best u16), bronze medalist FM Arjun Adireddy of India, gold medalist GM Aleksey Grebnev of Russia playing under FIDE flag, silver medalist IM S Aswath of India, IM Amilal Munkhdalai of Mongolia (best u18).
Grebnev (above left) and the Philippines’ newest Grandmaster elect Daniel Quizon make the ceremonial moves opening the event as Heads of Delegations and officials look on.
A total of 30 juniors and 22 girls are participating from twelve countries, namely Guam, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Chinese Taipei, Vietnam and host Philippines. The event is hosted by the Tagaytay Chess Club under the auspices of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines, Asian Chess Federation and International Chess Federation in cooperation with the City of Tagaytay, Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Olympic Committee.
Visit chess-results.com for round by round results and standings. The standard championship starts 10am tomorrow 13 October.
Grebnev (right) got off to a slow start as he was held to a draw by Indian IM Krishna Rohith in the second round. After three straight wins, Grebnev lost to Vietnamese IM Dau Khuong Duy in the sixth round. Grebnev rebounded with two wins and drew the last round with compatriot IM Artem Uskov to finish alone with 7 points for the gold medal.
Two Indians, IM Aswath and FM Arjun Adireddy finished second and third, respectively, with 6.5 points each for the silver and bronze medals, respectively, beating IM Dau by tie break.
Chief Arbiter IA Patrick Lee awards medals to, from left, silver medalist WFM Gunawardhana Devindya Oshini of Sri Lanka, Sneha Halder (best u16) of India, gold medalist WIM Anna Shukman of Russia, playing under FIDE flag, bronze mdalist WFM Shubhi Gupta of India, WIM G Tejaswini (best u18) of India and tournament coordinator Mike Lapitan.
Top seed WIM Anna Shukhman (right) also won the Asian Girls Rapid Chess Championship alone with 8 points. World Cadets Champion Oshini Gunawardhana of Sri Lanka took the lead after beating Shukhman in the fourth round and held on to the lead until the seventh round when she lost to Indian WIM G. Tejaswani.
Shukhman won all her remaining games to grab the gold while Oshini lost to WIM Zeinep Sultanbek of Kazakhstan in the last round to tally 7 points for the silver. WFM Guptan Shubhi of India won the bronze with 6 points and the better tie break over Sultanbek.
