The Drogheda Super Rapid 2K25 KlimaX was held recently over Christmas as the last event of the year from the 27th to the 28th of December in the ABCD Bridge Centre, Drogheda. The event is now in it's 2nd edition and continues to be the only multi-day rapid event in the country.
The format consisted of a 15-round Swiss, FIDE rated, over two days with a time control of 20+2. For such an endurance event was a large prize fund to match as well as fantastic wooden chess trophies (pictured). The event was once again generously sponsored from Greg's Garage Ashbourne.
The 2nd edition saw renewed and strong attendance both in strength and numbers, with 62 entrants participating. The field was even stronger with 9 titled players (2 IM, 4 FMs, 1 WGM, and 2 CMs), two more than last year. Six of these had played the 1st edition, including returning champion FM Oleg Artemenko. Players from a wide range of federations were present, including Hungary, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Ireland.
The Super Rapid also saw the return of the Puzzle Rush mini-game that participants could partake in after their game was finished or between rounds. For the chance to win a DGT-3000 chess clock and a Puzzle Rush Trophy, each player had one try to get the highest score. See the winners below!
Despite the appearance of numerous past and current Irish Champions, as well as speed chess specialists, there was little that could halt the Uzbek Juggernaut! Defending champion FM Oleg Artemenko led from the front. Only two draws in Round 5 and 6 from FM Jason Liu and IM Tarun Kanyamarala slowed him down and temporarily knocked him off Board 1. For the remaining 9 rounds, he only dropped half a point! Once again Oleg Artemenko was champion with a dominant score of 13.5/15 and a round to spare.
Live Boards
The Drogheda Super Rapid 2K25 KlimaX broadcasted the event live using 20 DGT e-Boards. These broadcasts are available on DGT LiveChess Cloud and lichess.org and can be viewed here. Note that that due to malfunctions on some of the boards, not all of the games or results shown on the broadcast this year are correct.
Photography
A small sample of the action is provided below with the full set of photos on the Drogheda Chess Club Facebook Page.
Action from the first and final round
Prize Winners
Main Prizes
1st (€700): FM Oleg Artemenko - 13.5/15.
2nd (€430): IM Tarun Kanyamarala (Dublin) - 12/15.
3rd (€300): FM Jason Liu (Gonzaga) - 11.5/15.
4th (€170): IM David Fitzsimons (Elm Mount) - 11/15.
5th (€130): FM Kavin Venkatesan (St. Benildus) - 10.5/15.
Main Prize Winners pictured with arbiter Krzysztof Nowak and club president Donal O'Boyle: FM Oleg Artemenko (top left), IM Tarun Kanyamarala (top middle), FM Jason Liu (top right), IM David Fitzsimons (bottom left) and FM Kavin Venkatesan (bottom right)
Additional Prizes
Best Woman (€130): WGM Trisha Kanyamarala (Dublin) - 9.5/15.
Best U18 (Trophy): Korneliusz Bartczak (Limerick) - 10/15.
Grading Prize (€80 & Pawn Key Chain): (1900 - 1700 Rating) George White (KoÉ/Rathmines) - 9/15.
Grading Prize (€80 & Pawn Key Chain): (1739 - 1640 Rating) Illia Smoliarenko - 9/15.
Grading Prize (€65 & Pawn Key Chain): (1659 - 1400 Rating) Agasthya Kunder (Drogheda) - 8/15.
Grading Prize (€65 & Pawn Key Chain): (Unrated) Eoin McCarron (Drogheda) - 7.5/15.
Additional Prize Winners: WGM Trisha Kanyamarala (top left), Korneliusz Bartczak (top middle), George White (top right), Illia Smoliarenko (bottom left), Agasthya Kunder (bottom middle) and Eoin McCarron (bottom right)
Pawn Key Chains for Youngest Players - Born 2013 - 2015: George White (KoÉ/Rathmines), Ayaansh Mulukutla (KoÉ/Rathmines), Murray Liu (Blanchardstown), Agasthya Kunder (Drogheda), Kishan Pradeep Kumar (Drogheda), Nicole White (KoÉ/Rathmines), Thomas Syms (Elm Mount), Tengle Alvin Su, Punuru Karthik Srikrishna, Dariy Kelbas (Chess Kings), Mohit Kanduri, Jayden Amrolan (Chess Kings).
Drogheda Super Rapid 2K25 Youngest Players (Born 2013 - 2015) with Pawn Key Chains
Chess Set for Youngest Participant: Agasthya Kunder (Drogheda)
Pawn Key Chain for First Entrant: Vitaliy Salmin (Blanchardstown)
Puzzle Rush Competition Winners
Each band carried a prize of a Puzzle Rush Trophy, DGT3000 chess clock and Pawn Key Chain for the highest score.
≥ 1851 Rating: FM Kavin Venkatesan (St. Benildus) - 43 (On tie-break*)
1850 - 1701 Rating: Ayaansh Mulukutla (KoÉ/Rathmines) - 32
1700 - 1501 Rating: Advaith V Nichenametla (Master Chess Club) - 30
≤ 1500 Rating: Eoin McCarron (Drogheda) - 19
*First tie-break is rating of puzzle of first mistake. Both Tarun Kanyamarala and Kavin Venkatesan scored 43. However Tarun's 1st mistake was on a puzzle rated lower than Kavin's.
Puzzle Rush Prize Winners (pictured left to right): Eoin McCarron, Ayaansh Mulukutla, Advaith V Nichenametla, FM Kavin Venkatesan
Acknowledgements
The Drogheda Chess Club would like to thank all those who helped organise and run the event, in particular Chief Organiser and Arbiter Krzysztof Nowak. In addition, we'd like to thank everyone who helped set up and worked behind the scenes, including Arbiter Frank Pentony, Filip Bartczak, Anita Turcin, Dutca Dacian (for refreshments!), all the Drogheda Chess Club organising committee and many others. We'd like to thank our hosts, the ABCD Bridge Centre, for once again providing a wonderful venue. We'd like to thank all our sponsors.
Finally we'd like to thank the players for attending. We hope to see you all again next year for the 3rd edition!
