Kiran claims State women’s chess title

Woman International Master Kiran Manisha Mohanty lived up to her reputation by winning the title in the State Women’s Chess Championship at OAS Association Complex in Bhubaneswar today. Former Woman National ‘B’ champion Kiran won all her seven games to finish with seven points. This is the seventh time that Kiran claimed the State women’s title. Shradhanjali Jena, Raj Rajeswaree Dash and Smaraki Mohanty occupied the second, third and fourth positions respectively. The top four qualified to represent Orissa in the Women’s National ‘B’ Championship to be held at Nagpur from September 7 to 15. Altogether 25 players vied for honours in the three-day State championship, which was organised by Kalinga Chess Academy, under the aegis of State Ad-hoc Committee. Final standings (Top 10): 1. KM Mohanty (7), 2. S Jena (5.5), 3. RR Dash (5), 4. S Mohanty (4.5), 5. Sunyasakta Satpathy (4.5), 6. Aparajita Gochhikar (4.5), 7. Akankhya Kabi (4.5), 8. Shibangi Acharya (4.5), 9. Ruttumbara Bidhar (4), 10. Adyasha Pattnaik (4). PHOTO: Top four finishers (L to R) Kiran Manisha Mohanty, Shradhanjali Jena, Raj Rajeswaree Dash and Smaraki Mohanty at the State Women’s Chess Championship in Bhubaneswar on August 24, 2009.