Sidhant, Smaraki, Rakesh, Akankshya champions

Rakesh Jena (Jajpur), Sidhant Mohapatra (Bhadrak), Akankshya Nayak (Cuttack) and Smaraki Mohanty (Cuttack) emerged champions in four different groups of the All-Orissa Bhola Infratech Cup School Chess Tournament, which concluded at Nalco Auditorium in Bhubaneswar today. The title winners received a cash prize of Rs 2,500 each. Hosted jointly by Ama Parivar and S R Chess Centre, the three-day tournament provided a mixed experience of pleasure and pain to the competitors. The nine-round tournament enjoyed the credit of garnering a record number of 302 participants from across the state. But at the same time, the event drew criticism for forcing children to play three to four rounds a day. Playing five to eight hours of competitive chess is not good for kids. So much of mental exercise may adversely affect their brains, senior players and coaches said. Final standings (Top five): Group-A (Boys upto class 5): 1. Rakesh Jena (9 pts), 2. Soumen Amlan (7.5), 3. Hara Prasad Chatterjee (7), 4. Bhaskar Sri Viswaroopanand (7), 5. Rudrakshya Parida (7). Group-B (Boys class 6 to 10): 1. Sidhant Mohapatra (8), 2. Mohammad Ashraf (7.5), 3. Ashutosh Mohapatra (7), 4. Johnson Sahoo (7), 5. Rakesh Kumar Nayak (7). Group-C (Girls upto class 5): 1. Akankshya Nayak (8), 2. Rutumbara Bidhar (7.5), 3. Sovna Sonali Jena (6.5), 4. Subhashree Priyadarshini (6.5), 5. Nabanita Pattnaik (6). Group-D (Girls class 6 to 10): 1. Smaraki Mohanty (8), 2. Shivangee Acharya (6.5), 3. Shraddhanjali Jena (6.5), 4. Sribinda Rout (6.5), 5. Akankhya Kabi (6). Photo caption: Title winners (L to R) Sidhant Mohapatra, Smaraki Mohanty, Akankshya Nayak and Rakesh Jena in Bhubaneswar on June 2, 2009.