Manas Gaikwad magnificent at 1st Little Star Chess Academy Rapid Rating Open 2026
Manas Gaikwad scored an unbeaten 8.5/9 to win 1st Little Star Chess Academy Rapid Rating Open 2026.
Manas’ seventh overall, second rating tournament triumph of the year
The top seed of the tournament made a perfect start by winning eight games in-a-row. Sourabh Mhamane was the only pursuer at 7.5/8. Manas drew against Sourabh as it was enough for him to become a clear champion. Sourabh finished third. Sankarsha Shelke defeated Aarav Amit Kale to secure second place 8/9. WCM Nihira Koul is the sole female finisher in the top ten. She scored 7.5/9 to be placed sixth according to tie-breaks and went on to become Maharashtra State Women’s 2026 champion after this. The reigning National Under-9 Girls champion, Pritika Nandi scored an impressive 7/9 to claim 14th place. The legend, WGM Swati Ghate scored 7/9 to finish 15th.
The total prize fund was ₹300000. The top three prizes were ₹21000, ₹15000 and ₹11000 with a trophy each.
Champion – Manas Gaikwad 8.5/9 | Photo: Mayank Lalit Chulet
Runner-up – Sankarsha Shelke 8/9 | Photo: Mayank Lalit Chulet
Second Runner-up – Sourabh Mhamane 8/9 | Photo: Mayank Lalit Chulet
Top 3 (L to R): 3rd Sourabh Mhamane 8/9, 1st Manas Gaikwad 8.5/9 and 2nd Sankarsha Shelke 8/9 | Photo: Mayank Lalit Chulet
Manas Gaikwad in action during one of his games | Photo: Mayank Lalit Chulet
Manas Gaikwad scored an unbeaten 8.5/9, finished a half point ahead of the rest and gained 24.7 Elo rating points
6th WCM Nihira Koul 7.5/9 | Photo: Mayank Lalit Chulet
14th Pritika Nandi 7/9 | Photo: Mayank Lalit Chulet
15th WGM Swati Ghate 7/9 | Photo: Mayank Lalit Chulet
Opening ceremony | Photo: Mayank Lalit Chulet
Inaugural first move | Photo: Mayank Lalit Chulet
Players in action | Photo: Mayank Lalit Chulet
Top boards | Photo: Mayank Lalit Chulet
Trophies for the prize winners | Photo: Mayank Lalit Chulet
Various prize winners | Photo: Mayank Lalit Chulet
Replay all available games
A total of 330 players including an IM and a WGM took part from various parts of the country, one from Germany and two from the USA. The one-day nine-round Rapid Rating Open tournament was organized by Little Star Chess Academy at Clara Global School in Pune, Maharashtra on 23rd August 2026. The time control of the tournament was 10 minutes + 5 seconds increment.
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