Nine more from Orissa obtain Fide rating

The first SCS International Open GM Chess Tournament, held at Bhubaneswar last month, has helped nine more players from Orissa obtain international rating, while 40 more have inched closer to it. According to chief arbiter Prof R Anantharam on Friday, 25 other Orissa players would get the rating if they have met at least three rated opponents in previous tournaments or do so in the next. Fifteen more would obtain the rating if they have played against nine rated opponents earlier or when they do so in the future. With the addition of nine new entrants, the number of Orissa players in FIDE rating list has gone up to 84. This is approximately two per cent of the total number of rated players (4,335) India has produced till date. But considering the growing popularity of the 64-square game in the state, Orissa is sure to cross the three figure mark sooner than later. New rated players: Dhirendra Das, Dibakar Patnaik, Kumud Kumar Nath, Sudhir Behera, Madhusudan Sahu, Rajat Kumar Sahoo, Narayan Swain, Hemant Kumar Nayak, Panchanan Mishra, Prasanna Kumar Nayak, Satarudra Das.