Areshchenko triumphs in Mayor's Cup – Jai Ho Mumbai!!

Jai Ho Mumbai!!

Report by Praful Zaveri

It's nearly six months since one of the most brutal terrorist attack on Mumbai. However, this image of a terrorist (later caught alive) raining bullets and grenades on the hapless civilians at the CST Railway Terminus will remain etched in the minds of every Mumbaikars foreover.

This ghastly 26/11 attack accounted for nearly 200 casualties and damages running into millions. It shook the city as well as the nation to the hilt.

Normally, it is very difficult for overcome such tragedy, but the city of Mumbai has been endowed with some supernatural power – a "Never-Say-Die" spirit to bounce back. That is exactly what it did after the end of the operation of nearly 60-hours.

Jai Ho Mumbai!! As for the meaning of the word "Jai Ho" (literally: "We praise"), I would like to quote world renowned Music maestro A.R. Rahman, whose compositions in "Slumdog Millionaire" made him the first Indian to win twin Oscars. "May You Be The Victor" – Jai Ho Mumbai!!

And, in keeping with this spirit, we continued with the hosting of the second editon of the Mumbai Mayor's International Chess Tournament at the Goregaon Sports Club. In spite of the security concerns the tournament attracted 415 players from ten countries, including 21 GMs and three WGMs. The prize fund was a record Rs.1,200,000 (nearly 18,500 Euros) with a first prize of Rs. 275,000 (nearly 4,000 Euros).

This event, the brainchild of Mr. Ravindra Dongre, Vice-President of the All India Chess Federation, has the support of the Municipal Commissioner of Mumbai, Mr. Jairaj Phatak, who is himself a very formidable player of yesteryear.

GM Alexander Areshchenko triumphs on a better tie-break.

The eleven-round tournament ended in a four-way tie at the top, with top seeded Ukranian GM Evgeny Miroshnichenko, GM Alexander Areshchenko, GM Koneru Humpy and GM P. Magesh Chandran ending up with a score 9.0/11. However, GM Alexander Areshchenko was declared the winner as he had better tie-break.

GM Alexander Areshchenko, UKR, 2657 playing GM P. Magesh Chandran, IND, 2462

Dubbed as 'Monster' for his aggressive style of play, Areshchenko raced to 6.0/6 and thereafter drew with Humpy in the seventh round. He scored one more victory over GM Zinchenko in the eighth round, followed by three draws, to clinch the title.

India’s highest ranked player in this event, GM Koneru Humpy, once again had to be contended with second place, after defeating GM Yaroslav Zinchenko of Ukraine in the last round. Top seed GM Evgeny Miroshnichenko, who beat GM Petr Kostenko and GM Magesh Chandran, who beat GM Vladimir Belov, was placed 3rd-4th.

The tournament was also a success story for lower rated players, as they were able to beat or draw with much fancied opponents. In the thirrd round, local college boy Sagar Shah created the biggest upset by defeating the third seed Vladimir Belov of Russia in just 36 moves, while in the eighth round 15-year old Mumbai schoolboy and IM norm holder Aditya Udeshi stunned Ukraine’s GM Alexander Zubarev in just 25 moves.

Latest Indian super-talent Aditya Udeshi

Another budding talent: Soumya Swaminathan

Top standings after eleven rounds

• Full results of all 415 players are available here

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