Apoorv Kamble amazing at CircleChess x Tech Mahindra GCL Grand Rapid Rating Open 2026
IM Apoorv Kamble scored an unbeaten 8.5/9 to win CircleChess x Tech Mahindra GCL Grand Rapid Rating Open 2026.
Apoorv’s fifth overall, fourth rating tournament triumph of the year
IM Apoorv Kamble made a perfect start by winning eight games in-a-row. FM Siddhanth Poonja was the sole pursuer at 7.5/8. Siddhanth drew against Apoorv, the latter became the champion and the former seventh. IM Sammed Jaykumar Shete defeated Rohith Yadav B R to finish second with 8/9. Rakshith Srinivasan lost to FM Kannan Vaidyanathan (USA) who claimed third place scoring 8/9.
The total prize fund was ₹400000. The top three prizes were ₹40000, ₹30000 and ₹20000 along with a trophy each.
Champion – IM Apoorv Kamble 8.5/9 | Photo: CircleChess
Runner-up – IM Sammed Jaykumar Shete 8/9 | Photo: CircleChess
Second Runner-up – FM Kannan Vaidyanathan (USA) 8/9 | Photo: CircleChess
Top 3 (L to R): 3rd FM Kannan Vaidyanathan (USA) 8/9, 1st IM Apoorv Kamble 8.5/9 and 2nd IM Sammed Jaykumar Shete 8/9 | Photo: CircleChess
The champion – IM Apoorv Kamble shares a few words | Photo: CircleChess
IM Apoorv Kamble scored an unbeaten 8.5/9, finished a half point ahead of the competition and increased his Elo rating by 26.6 points
The profusely talented Asian Junior Girls 2026 champion – WIM Pratitee Bordoloi was felicitated by the Golden Aura Trust and presented a cheque worth ₹15000 | Photo: CircleChess
WIM Pratitee Bordoloi and her mother | Photo: CircleChess
Asian Junior Girls 2026 Gold medalist – WIM Pratitee Bordoloi with her mother and the Golden Aura Trust | Photo: CircleChess
Indubitably, India’s best coach GM Vishnu Prasanna V, the man who built D Gukesh into a World-Class player and World Champion, finished fourth scoring 8/9. Despite not playing these days and currently working with another bright talent, GM Nihal Sarin, Vishnu delivered a fantastic performance.
4th GM Vishnu Prasanna V 8/9 | Photo: CircleChess
5th IM Harsh Suresh 8/9 | Photo: CircleChess
6th IM Mohammad Nubairshah Shaikh 8/9 | Photo: CircleChess
7th FM Siddhanth Poonja 8/9 | Photo: CircleChess
8th Peter Anand A 8/9 | Photo: CircleChess
9th CM Sarveshwaran V 8/9 | Photo: CircleChess
10th GM Visakh N R 7.5/9 | Photo: CircleChess
Top female finisher and overall 12th – WIM Aakanksha Hagawane 7.5/9, receiving her prize from her better half, GM Visakh N R | Photo: CircleChess
Arbiters’ team with the organizers | Photo: CircleChess
A total of 711 players including three GMs, six IMs and a WIM took part from various parts of the country. The one-day nine-round Rapid Rating Open tournament was organized by The Golden Aura Trust, CircleChess and Tech Mahindra Global Chess League at Koramangala Indoor Stadium in Bengaluru, Karnataka on 26th August 2026. The time control of the tournament was 10 minutes + 5 seconds increment.
Links
Tech Mahindra Global Chess League
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