Mahtnai takes IM Kevin Denny Open

Nitin Mahtani has won the second qualifier for the 2023 national chess championship, the IM Kevin Denny Open with 6 points from 7 games. He won five games and drew two of his games against the eventual second and third place finishers Lawrence Depradine and Emar Edwards who both finished on 5 ½ points.

Mahtani who has been based in Canada while he was studying made an emphatic return to the local chess boards and won an exciting event over the Whitsuntide weekend.

Going into the final round three players shared the lead and these included the players who would eventually finish first to third, Mahtani, Depradine and Edwards.

Mahtani was paired against Tyrell McCollin, Depradine had white against Noah Clarke and Edwards faced Chanon Reifer-Belle with the black pieces. On paper it looked like Edwards had the toughest match with Mahtani having the most comfortable. The overall result of the tournament was dependent on the results of these games.

Mahtani was the one who applied the early pressure as he got a clear advantage against McCollin, and after improving his position, he won convincingly in the end. However, it was not so easy for the other two, as Edwards found himself in some trouble and had to sacrifice a piece against Reifer-Belle to force a draw. Depradine also found himself up against it in his game, with Noah Clarke. He also had to force a draw in the position.

With these results, Mathani won the event to lead Depradine and Edwards in qualifying for the 2023 National chess championship finals.

Reifer-Belle finished fourth on four and a half points, just ahead of Cyprian LaTouche in the tie-break.

The next event in the chess calendar will be the Senior Games, Karl Sealy Memorial which is due to start on June 11. Chess has been a game which has been shown to improve ones memory and help elder persons from Alzheimer’s disease.