This story is from May 2, 2016

Vidarbha Grandmaster Dhopade bags another chess crown

Swapnil Dhopade continued his good form by emerging champion in the Syna Open All India Fide Rating Chess tournament which concluded recently at Katni, Madhya Pradesh.
Vidarbha Grandmaster Dhopade bags another chess crown
NAGPUR: Swapnil Dhopade continued his good form by emerging champion in the Syna Open All India Fide Rating Chess tournament which concluded recently at Katni, Madhya Pradesh.
The first Grandmaster of Vidarbha, Dhopade justified his top billing to clinch the title with an impressive display of tactics. He notched up maximum 7.5 points from nine rounds which included six wins and three draws.
A week prior to Katni tournament, Dhopade bagged the international blitz chess crown at Bangkok by scoring an upset win over an experienced GM from the Netherlands Loek van Wely.

The 25-year-old Dhopade was satisfied with his performance at Katni.
"My crucial wins included win over IM Anup Deshmukh and third seed Himal Gusain of Chandigarh in the 8th round which gave me a half point lead over the field going into the last round. A last-round easy draw over second seed IM N Srinath of Air India sealed the tournament victory for me," said Dhopade.
The Amravati-based player was challenged by his earlier coach Anup Deshmukh but in the battle between Guru-Shishya, later prevailed.

"Anup Sir played really well in the remaining rounds and scored 7.5 points to join me at the top. But due to better tie-break scores, I was adjudged champion and he became runner-up. Overall, it was a good tournament for both of us," said Dhopade, an employee of Railways.
With this effort, Dhopade won the cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, while Deshmukh had to be satisfied with Rs 60,000.
The in-form player is determined to maintain the winning streak in 2016. "I want to excel in every tournament I participate. There are some big events coming up in which world's top GM will compete. I want to do well against them," said Dhopade.
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