Abhimanyu Puranik and Aruniyak Ghosh
NEW DELHI: The National Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship concluded at Sarala Birla University in Ranchi, with over 400 players from across the country competing in intense matches that tested speed and strategy.
The tournament featured two formats in Blitz and Rapid and witnessed impressive performances from many of the top Indian players.In the Blitz section, Grandmaster (GM) Abhimanyu Puranik emerged as the champion after a thrilling finish.
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The Maharashtra player scored 9 runs in 11 innings to secure the title. The competition was very tight for the top spot, with GM Sayantan Das of Railway Sports Promotion Board also bagging 9 points.
However, Puranik, who comes from Mumbai, clinched the championship thanks to a better score in the tie-break. International Master (IM) Madhavan NB from Tamil Nadu finished third with 8.5 points, ahead of several players who also finished with the same score.The Blitz format requires quick thinking and extremely fast movements, making it a difficult competition even for experienced masters. Puranik showed remarkable composure under time pressure to take the lead in a field full of strong competitors.
In the Rapid division, IM Aronyak Ghosh gave an outstanding performance to claim the title. Representing the Railway Sports Promotion Board, the West Bengal player scored 9.5 runs out of 11 rounds and remained unbeaten throughout the tournament.The victory represents an important milestone for Ghosh, who is currently working towards his final Grandmaster standard. Meanwhile, Puranik’s win in the Blitz category cements his reputation as one of India’s best players in fast-paced chess styles.
