Vidit and Raunak clinch Maharashtra Challenge Match

by Shahid Ahmed
6/11/2023 – Vidit Gujrathi and Raunak Sadhwani won Maharashtra Challenge Match 2023. They both dominated their respective opponents, Peter Svidler and Nigel Short. Raunak won the match with six games and a day to spare, Vidit clinched it with four games left on the final day. Raunak dominated all three formats - Classical, Rapid and Blitz. Vidit scored more in Classical and Rapid events. Svidler was better in Blitz. Full report with videos and photos by Sagar Shah.
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The India no.3, Vidit, won ₹1,000,000, while Svidler received ₹600,000. The teenager Raunak received ₹300,000, while the veteran Short got ₹200,000. This was a FIDE-Rated event, so both Vidit and Raunak won some valuable Elo rating points, apart from gaining a wealth of experience in their home state of Maharashtra. The match was held at Raunak's home city of Nagpur.

A grand finish

Both Vidit Gujrathi and Raunak Sadhwani lived up to all expectations and delivered. While Raunak completely decimated his opponent in all three formats, Vidit was dominant in Classical and Rapid formats. This was the first elite-level match to take place in India since the Anand-Carlsen World Championship Match, which happened in Chennai in November 2013. India's fourth GM in history, the legendary Abhijit Kunte, was present at the closing ceremony along with other guests.

Vidit Gujrathi and Raunak Sadhwani are the winners of Maharashtra Challenge Match 2023

The four Maharashtra Challenge Match participants (L to R) - GM Nigel Short, GM Vidit Gujrathi, GM Peter Svidler and GM Raunak Sadhwani

Maharashtra Challenge Match organizing team, officials and guests with the four participants

Classical games in interactive format: learn from IM Sagar Shah at Chessranga.

Vidit - Svidler: 17.5-10.5

  • Classical: 7.5-4.5
  • Rapid: 7-1
  • Blitz: 3-5

Raunak - Short: 20-8

  • Classical: 7.5-4.5
  • Rapid: 5-3
  • Blitz: 7.5-0.5

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MoveNResultEloPlayers
1.e41,172,27354%2421---
1.d4951,24355%2434---
1.Nf3283,16356%2440---
1.c4182,99656%2442---
1.g319,77556%2427---
1.b314,39754%2427---
1.f45,92048%2377---
1.Nc33,83450%2384---
1.b41,76548%2379---
1.a31,22854%2405---
1.e31,07449%2409---
1.d395850%2378---
1.g466746%2361---
1.h445753%2378---
1.c343651%2426---
1.h328356%2419---
1.a411560%2464---
1.f39646%2431---
1.Nh39166%2508---
1.Na34262%2482---
1.c4 e5 2.g3 d6 3.Nc3 f5 4.d4 Be7 5.Bh3 Na6 6.dxe5 dxe5 7.Qxd8+ Bxd8 8.Nf3 e4 9.Nd4 g6 10.Bf4 c6 11.0-0-0 Nf6 12.f3 exf3 13.exf3 Kf7 14.Rhe1 Be7 14...Bc7 15.c5 Bxc5 16.Bf1 Re8 17.Bc4+ Kg7 18.Be5 Nc7 19.g4+- Rxe5 20.Rxe5 Nd7 21.Ree1 Nb6 22.Ne6+ Bxe6 23.Bxe6 Kf6 24.Bb3 Rf8 25.h4 h6 26.f4 Re8 27.g5+ Kg7 28.Rxe8 Nxe8 29.Rd8 Nd6 30.Kc2 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Vidit Gujrathi-Svidler,P-1–02023Maharashtra Challenge Match1.1
Svidler,P-Gujrathi,V-1–02023Maharashtra Challenge Match2.1
Vidit Gujrathi-Peter Svidler-1–02023Maharashtra Challenge Match3.1
Peter Svidler-Vidit Gujrathi-½–½2023Maharashtra Challenge Match4.1
Vidit,S2665Svidler,P27521–02023Maharashtra Challenge Match1
Svidler,P2752Vidit,S26650–12023Maharashtra Challenge Match2
Vidit,S2635Svidler,P26850–12023Maharashtra Challenge Match1
Svidler,P2685Vidit,S26351–02023Maharashtra Challenge Match2
Vidit,S2635Svidler,P2685½–½2023Maharashtra Challenge Match3
Svidler,P2685Vidit,S26351–02023Maharashtra Challenge Match4
Vidit,S2665Svidler,P2752½–½2023Maharashtra Challenge Match3
Svidler,P2752Vidit,S26650–12023Maharashtra Challenge Match4
Vidit,S2635Svidler,P26850–12023Maharashtra Challenge Match5
Svidler,P2685Vidit,S26350–12023Maharashtra Challenge Match6
Vidit,S2635Svidler,P26851–02023Maharashtra Challenge Match7
Svidler,P2685Vidit,S2635½–½2023Maharashtra Challenge Match8

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MoveNResultEloPlayers
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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.g3 a6 7.Bg2 h5 8.f4 b5 9.Be3 Bb7 10.Qd3 Rc8 11.0-0-0 Nf6 12.Kb1 Na5 13.Rhf1 Nc4 14.Bg1 b4 15.Nce2 Nd6 16.Bf3 Ndxe4 17.Nb3 a5 18.Ned4 Bd5 19.Rfe1 a4 20.Nb5 Qb7 21.Na5 Qa8 22.Bb6 Be7 23.Bxe4 Bxe4 24.Nd6+ Bxd6 25.Qxd6 Bxc2+ 26.Ka1 Bxd1 27.Rxd1 Qd5 28.Rxd5 Rc1# 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Short,N-Sadhwani,R-0–12023Maharashtra Challenge Match1.1
Sadhwani,R-Short,N-0–12023Maharashtra Challenge Match2.1
Nigel Short-Raunak Sadhwani-0–12023Maharashtra Challenge Match3.1
Sadhwani,R-Short,N-½–½2023Maharashtra Challenge Match4.1
Short,N2537Sadhwani,R2567½–½2023Maharashtra Challenge Match1
Sadhwani,R2567Short,N25371–02023Maharashtra Challenge Match2
Short,N2537Sadhwani,R25671–02023Maharashtra Challenge Match3
Sadhwani,R2567Short,N25371–02023Maharashtra Challenge Match4
Short,N2603Sadhwani,R26310–12023Maharashtra Challenge Match1
Sadhwani,R2631Short,N26031–02023Maharashtra Challenge Match2
Short,N2603Sadhwani,R26310–12023Maharashtra Challenge Match3
Sadhwani,R2631Short,N26031–02023Maharashtra Challenge Match4
Short,N2603Sadhwani,R2631½–½2023Maharashtra Challenge Match5
Sadhwani,R2631Short,N26031–02023Maharashtra Challenge Match6
Short,N2603Sadhwani,R26310–12023Maharashtra Challenge Match7
Sadhwani,R2631Short,N26031–02023Maharashtra Challenge Match8

There are 15 more videos on all games in this ChessBase India report.

Maharashtra Chess Association: Official site, fb page and twitter

Shahid Ahmed is the senior coordinator and editor of ChessBase India. He enjoys covering chess tournaments and also likes to play in chess events from time to time.
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