BHUBANESWAR 20-Apr-2011 157
Local boy Utkal Ranjan Sahu won the title in the Orissa State Senior Chess Championship, which was held at the Biju Patnaik Hockey Stadium in Rourkela from April 15 to 20. In the 11-round Fide rated championship, hosted by Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP), Utkal secured nine points with seven wins and four draws. He received the top prize of Rs 8,000.
Bhadrak school boy Sidhant Mohapatra finished runner-up, garnering nine points with the help of eight wins and two draws. He became richer by Rs 5,000. Swayans Mishra (Cuttack) and Manoj Panigrahi (Puri) occupied the third and fourth positions respectively 8.5 points each.
The top four finishers qualified to represent Orissa in the National Challengers Championship to be held at Aurangabad (Maharashtra) from June 15 to 26. Around 150 players from across state participated in the six-day championship. RSP Executive Director SS Mohanty handed over the trophy and prizes at the closing function.
