K. Visweswaran tied with four
other players, namely, K. Ranganathan (SBI), IM
R.B. Ramesh (IOC), R.S. Prasanna (Modern SSS) and J. Karthik (PSBB) with 7.5 points in
nine rounds but won the title with better progressive score in the Lakshmi General Finance
Open Rapid Chess tournament organised by Capa Chess Academy held during 1-2, May 1999 at
Indian Red Cross Society, Chennai. Though
Vishweswaran faced his only defeat, at the hands of IM R.B. Ramesh (IOC) in the ninth and
the final round, he managed to take the coveted title with a slander margin of 0.5
progressive score than the unlucky Ranganathan. Vishweswaran bagged the prize money of Rs.
2000/-. Ranganathan played solidly throughout the tournament and took the second spot with
the prize money of Rs. 1000/-. In the third round T.B. Sundar scored an upset victory over
the top seed IM R.B. Ramesh who employed Sicilian Dragon variation. Though Ramesh could
have easily won the game, he blundered in the end due to time pressure by giving a wrong
check instead of controlling the eighth rank. Thereby he allowed Sundar's pawn to become a
queen. He lost immediately (game appended hereto). Then he came from behind, after
his loss to Sundar, played with confidence and was finally placed third in that order.
Earlier the tournament attracted 136 participants
including five FIDE rated players.
Mr. S. Balasubramanian, AGM, Lakshmi General Finance gave away the prizes to the winners
and Mr. Manual Aaron, Secretary, Tamil Nadu Chess Association, spoke on the occasion.
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