BHUBANESWAR 01-Aug-2010 463
Bhubaneswar duo Rakesh Kumar Nayak and Akankhya Kabi won the boys and girls titles respectively in the State Sub-junior (under-15) Chess Championship, which concluded at Angul College in Angul earlier today. Additional Collector Debraj Senapati gave away the trophies at the closing function.
Rakesh beat Sritam Bartia in the last round to top the table with six points. Mohammad Ashraf (Cuttack) finished runner-up, while Lochan Das (Puri) and Sidhant Mohapatra (Bhadrak) occupied the third and fourth positions in the final standings.
In the girls category, Akankhya defeated Sovna Sonali Jena (Cuttack) in the last round to emerge champion with 5.5 points. Smaraki Mohanty (Kendrapara) became runner-up, while Krushna Mishra (Balasore) and Sweta Senapati (Nalco Nagar) finished third and fourth respectively.
The top four finishers in each category qualified to represent Orissa in the National Sub-junior Championship at New Delhi from September 12. The state championship was hosted by Angul District Chess Association.
Final standings (Top 10):
Boys: 1. Rakesh Nayak (6), 2. Mohammad Ashraf (6), 3. Lochan Das (6), 4. Sidhant Mohapatra (5.5), 5. Abhilash Kabi (5.5), 6. Sourav Mohanty (5), 7. Rajat Sahoo (5), 8. Sritam Bartia (5), 9. Sankalp Baliarsingh (5), 10. Rajesh Shanti (5).
Girls: 1. Akankhya Kabi (5.5), 2. Smaraki Mohanty (5), 3. Krushna Mishra (4.5), 4. Sweta Senapati (3.5), 5. Adyasha Patnaik (3.5), 6. Sovna Sonali Jena (3), 7. Swarina Nayak (3), 8. Layatmika Patnaik (3), 9. Tanuja Sahoo (2), 10. Poonam Behera (2).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOTO: State sub-junior chess champions Rakesh Nayak (L) and Akankhya Kabi.
