ROURKELA 26-Apr-2007 72
Bhubaneswar boy Anwesh Upadhyaya became the youngest State senior chess champion by winning the 47th edition of the event at Ispat Stadium, Rourkela today. A class X student of Stewart School, Anwesh received the top prize of Rs 5,000 by scoring 10 points in the 11-round tournament, which was hosted by Rourkela Steel Plant.
Three players tied for the top position with 10 points each. But Anwesh clinched the crown with maximum progressive score of 63. His coach Rajendra Kumar Sahoo and Debasish Das of Niali finished second and third respectively in the final standing. Sahu was given Rs 3,000, while Das received Rs 2,000. Next seven finishers secured eight points each.
A total of 124 players, including 16 rated ones took part in the six-day championship. The top four finishers qualified to represent the State in the National ‘B’ championship to be held at Dindigul, Tamilnadu from June 10 to 20.
Final standing: 1. Anwesh Upadhyaya (Bbsr), 2. Rajendra Kumar Sahu (Bbsr), 3. Debashish Das (Niali), 4. Swayams Mishra (Ctc), 5. Kiran Manisha Mohanty (Bbsr), 6. Dasarthi Sahu (Bbsr), 7. Utkal Ranjan Sahoo (Rkl), 8. Manoj Kumar Panigrahi (Puri), 9. N N Behera (Rkl), 10. Biswajit Nayak (Bbsr).
