IM Pranesh M emerged as the winner of the Rilton Cup, the first tournament of the FIDE Circuit. The 16-year-old from India, seeded 22nd, made a clean sweep of the field in Stockholm, winning eight games and finishing a full point ahead of IM Kaan Kucuksari (Sweden) and GM Nikita Meshkovs (Latvia).
The 2022/2023 Rilton Cup, the strongest open tournament in Sweden, ran from December 27 to January 5 and brought together 136 players representing 29 national federations.
The champion crossed the 2500 rating threshold and became India’s 79th Grandmaster, having completed his three norms prior to this event.
Pranesh M is now the early leader of the FIDE Circuit with 6.8 circuit points that he gets for this victory. The one who accumulates the most points by the end of the year qualifies for the 2024 FIDE Candidates. More information is available on worldchampionshipcycle.fide.com/. Visit fide.com
Filipino Kim Yutangco Zafra finished tied for second and third overall on Jan. 5 in the Rilton Cup 1800 and below Chess Championship (90 minutes + 30 seconds increment) at the Scandic Continental Hotel in Stockholm, Sweden. Visit chess-results.com for round by round results and final standings.
Zafra scored crucial wins in the last two rounds against Björn Åkerström (Round 6) and Patrik Andrén (Round 7) of Sweden to wrap up his campaign with 6.0 points on five wins and two draws, the same output of eventual second placer Benoit Poisseroux of France, who prevailed in the tie break.
Lavinia Valcu of Sweden took first with perfect 7.0 poins and pocketed 4,000 Swedish Krona; Poisseroux earned 3,000 Swedish Krona while Zafra received 2,000 Swedish Krona.
Zafra finished at 3rd place with 5 wins, 2 draws and zero loss. “A medal and two cash prizes ( 3rd place and Top Performer Award). A bit disappointing finish due to some bad draw matchup and even missed the chance to play the 1st and 2nd placer. But for someone seeded #25 finishing 3rd out of 90 participants is good enough. Thanks to the tournament organizer of Rilton Cup and to coach Chester Caminong for helping me improve my game.” Zafra posted in his facebook account.
It shall be recalled that the Europe based Zafra, fondly called The Gambling Mathematician won the Tallinna MK kiirturniiride sari SÜGIS`2022 (VI etapp) A Chess Championship 2022 held in Tallinn, Estonia last Nov. 26