With the World Chess Federation (Fide)-recognised tournament handing the FM title to a player accumulating 66.66 percent of points from nine matches, Jaiswal and Bhupendra Niraula—tied on five points—were poised for glory. It was Jaiswal who scripted a memorable day of his chess career, defeating Niraula to become Nepal’s youngest FM at the age of 17.

Jaiswal, also the highest rated player of the country with 2156 points, leaves behind Manish Hamal who had become country’s first FM in 2008 at the age of 22. Jaiswal is the fourth FM of Nepal following into the footsteps of Hamal, Sujendra Prasad Shrestha and Bilam Lal Shrestha. Beginning the Qualifers as 11th ranked players, he finished fifth in event.

Jaiswal will also become the second player after former Nepal champion Digesh Shankar Malla to cross 2200 rating points. When the latest ratings will be published by Fide, Jaiswal will close in on an elusive 2300 rating points, the highest any Nepali player will have earned.    

Jaiswal’s successful tournament is marked by a draw against champion Rahman in the eighth round. While Jaiswal will celebrate his achievement, Niraula was left ruing the chances he missed despite playing the best chess of his life. Niraula stunned the Nepali camp playing draws against Bengali GMs Enamul Hossain and Niaz Murshed and International Master (IM) Abu Sufian Shakil along with FM Aminul Islam Khan.

Niraula also beat IM Minhazuddin Ahmed along with FMs Hamal and Debaraj Chatterjee. The tournament handed Niraula only the Candidate Master (CM) title. In the final round, Rahman drew Pakistani IM Mahmood Lodhi (6.5 points) to clinch the title with 7.5 points.

Jaiswal was tied on six points point with Bangladeshi GM Enamul Hossain and IM Minhazzudin but was pushed to fifth on progressive points. Madan Krishna Kayastha, who defeated FM Nasir Ahmed in the last round, ended up eighth on 5.5 points. Kayastha has already confirmed a CM title. Niraula and Bibek Thing finished 10th and 11th on five points respectively.  Hamal (5 pts) finished 18th.

Bangladesh WIM Shamima Liza Akter won the women’s title with 7.5 points ahead of WFM Nazrana Khan (7 pts) and Hamid Rani (6.5 pts). Nepal’s Asmita Adhikari finished seventh with five points, while Monalisha Khamboo got hold of WCM with 4.5 points.