Photo Credits: The Goan
MARGAO
Indian International Master (IM) Ameya Audi delivered a stellar performance to secure a podium finish at the Odisha GM Open 2024.
The tournament, held at the SOA Campus in Bhubaneswar, witnessed participation from 182 players, including 81 titled participants representing 20 countries.
Audi scored an impressive 7.5 points out of a possible 10 rounds, finishing joint third with five other players. However, tie-break rules placed him in sixth position overall. His campaign included six victories, and three draws, showcasing consistency and resilience throughout the event.
Notable among Ameya’s wins were victories over Sri Lanka’s Liyange Pesandu Rashmitha, and Indian players Utkal Ranjan Sahoo, Harshit Ranjan Sahoo, and Mummana Venkata Ruthvik.
His standout performances came in the final rounds, where he defeated GM Shyam Nikhil P (India) and GM Manik Mikulas(Slovakia). Additionally, Ameya held his ground with draws against formidable opponents like IM Neelash Saha (India) and IM David Gochelashvili (Russia).
The championship was fiercely contested, with FM Nguyen Quoc Hy (Vietnam) and GM Fedorov Alexei (Belarus) clinching the first and second places, respectively, both scoring 8 points. The tie-break determined the final standings for the group of six players, including Ameya, who shared 7.5 points.