NAGPUR: Indian youngsters Raunak Sadhwani and Vidit Gujrathi prevailed over their opponent British and Russian Grandmasters respectively to clinch the challenge match of Maharashtra Chess Festival in style at the Naivedhyam Northstar Hall, Koradi Road, on Tuesday.
Despite winning the challenge match a day earlier, Maharashtra's youngest GM and 18-year-old Raunak was ruthless against Nigel Short and completed the formality by winning three blitz games after both GMs won a round each in the rapid section. A day after taking an unassailable lead of nine points, and city's first GM Raunak stretched his lead further and outplayed Short 20-8.
"I really enjoyed playing blitz and am happy with my performance here. I wish to play many such challenging matches," Raunak said.
In the same way, India no. 3 Vidit Gujrathi defeated eight-time Russian champion and three-time Candidate qualifier Peter Svidler with a 17.5-10.5 score. After winning the fourth rapid round, Vidit stretched his lead to six points and earned an extra point in the blitz to clinch the challenge with a handy margin.
Though Svidler won the eight-round blitz 5-3, Vidit's impressive show in the classical and rapid helped him emerge champion.
The Challenge Match carried a handsome prize money of 21 lakh. For their winning performance, Vidit was richer by 9.5 lakh and Raunak received 3 lakh. The overseas GMs Svidler and Short were given 6.5 and 2 lakh respectively.
Immediately after the challenge matches, Vidit, Raunak, Svidler and vice president of Maharashtra Chess Association Abhijit Kunte played simultaneous exhibition games with participating youngsters.
THREE SHARE LEAD, CITY'S VAIBHAV STUNS 7TH SEED
Overnight leaders FM Vedant Panesar and IM Szpar Milosz of Poland played out a 42-move draw as Tamil Nadu's 20th seed Rohith Krishna surprised third seed Georgian GM Luka Paichadze to share the lead with 6.5 points at the end of eighth round in the 2nd Maharashtra International GM Open.
Nagpur's Chess Master (CM) Vaibhav Raut hogged the limelight when the unseeded defended well with his black pieces to stun seventh seeded experienced GM Venkatesh MR in 45 moves. With this win, Vaibhav took his tally of points to 5.5 and is sharing the third position.
RESULTS (ROUND 8)
Vedant Panesar (6.5) drew with Szpar Milosz (6.5), Paichadze Luka lost to Rohith Krishna (6.5), Fedorov Alexei (6) bt Sammed Shete (5.5), Babujian Levon (5.5) drew with Deep Sengupta (5.5), RR Laxman (5.5) drew with Aleksandrov Aleksej (5.5), MR Venkatesh (4.5) lost to Vaibhav Raut (5.5)
