Karnataka's Avani emerges champion in All India Chess Masters

IANS May 17, 2025 257 views

Karnataka's rising chess star Avani Udipi has emerged victorious in the All India Chess Masters tournament held in Mumbai. At just 20 years old, she secured the top prize of Rs 30,000 with an impressive performance that saw her match Maharashtra's Mayuresh Parkar's score but win on tiebreak. Her victory was particularly notable given her initial lower FIDE rating of 1669 compared to her competitors. The tournament showcased high-level competitive chess, with multiple players demonstrating exceptional skill across eight challenging rounds.

"Her consistency against all opponents held her in good stead" - Tournament Analysis
Mumbai, May 17: Karnataka's 20-year-old Avani Udipi emerged triumphant in the All India Chess Masters tournament, a FIDE-rated classical chess tournament which ended in Mumbai at the Mumbai Chess Centre, Russian House on Saturday.

Key Points

1

Karnataka's Avani wins with 7 points and superior tiebreak

2

Defeated Maharashtra's Mayuresh Parkar in close contest

3

Tournament featured eight intense competitive rounds

4

Young player overcame higher-rated opponents

Avani, who picked up the top prize of Rs 30,000, finished with an identical seven points to Maharashtra’s second-placed Mayuresh Parkar in the well-contested tournament. Parkar secured Rs 20,000 for his second place.

Avani, whose FIDE rating was 1669 before the start of the event, was declared the winner based on her superior tiebreaker score ahead of the 1757 rating of Mayuresh Parkar.

Chief arbiter of the tournament, Ajinkya Pingale, noted that Avani finished with a tie-break score of 36.5 in contrast to Parkar's tie-break score of 32, which was the decisive factor in the Karnataka girl finishing on a high and being named victor.

The tournament was contested over eight rounds and witnessed exciting battles with the players giving it their all in the course of the tourney. Acharya's consistency against all her opponents held her in good stead. A notable achievement saw the under-10 contestant Parv H Hakani finish in eighth place with 6.5 points.

That the level of competition was fierce can be gauged by the fact that six contestants wound up with 6.5 points to finish from third to eighth.

Earlier on Friday, Yash Kapadi and Darsh Shetty retained their joint lead in the event after their highly anticipated Round 7 encounter ended in a hard-fought draw.

Kapadi, playing with the white pieces on the top board, engaged in a tightly contested battle with Shetty that went to the wire. Following the draw, both players continue to lead the tournament standings with 6.5 points each.

Results:

Eighth and final round:

Mayuresh Parkar (ILO 1757) 1 beat 0 Yash Kapadi (ILO 1879); Darsh Shetty (ILO 1833) 0 lost 1 Avani Udipi (ILO 1669); Reyaansh Venkat (ILO 1697) 0.5 drew with 0.5 Om Gada (ILO 1814); Daksh Jagesia (ILO 1882) 0.5 drew with 0.5 Parv Hakani (ILO 1671); Kush Agarwal (ILO 1850) 1 beat 0 Dhruv Muthe (ILO 1674).

Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
What a fantastic achievement by Avani! 🎉 Beating higher-rated players shows her true potential. Karnataka is becoming a chess powerhouse with talents like her and Praggnanandhaa. Hope she gets more support to compete internationally!
P
Priya M.
Impressive performance by the young players! But why is the prize money so low (₹30k)? Chess requires immense dedication and skill. Our corporate houses should sponsor such events better. Look at cricket tournaments - chess deserves equal respect.
A
Arjun S.
The fact that Parv Hakani (under-10) finished 8th with 6.5 points is mind-blowing! India's chess future is bright. We need more such tournaments across states to nurture young talents. Kudos to Mumbai Chess Centre for organizing this!
S
Shalma R.
As a chess mom, I appreciate coverage of such events. But media should show more women's chess achievements. Avani beating higher-rated male players is noteworthy! Hope DD Sports or others broadcast these matches live.
V
Vikram J.
The tie-breaker system seems harsh on Parkar though - he had higher rating but lost due to technicality. Maybe organizers should consider having a playoff match for such close finishes? Still, congrats to both players for great chess!
N
Neha T.
Chess is the ultimate mind sport! 👑 So proud to see young Indians excelling. Hope schools across India make chess compulsory - it improves concentration and strategic thinking. My son started playing after watching Queen's Gambit!

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Chess Tournament Avani Udipi Karnataka Chess FIDE Tournament Mumbai Chess Centre