BHUBANESWAR 02-Sep-2011 151
Surjeet Nayak upset top seed Manas Ranjan Parida in the eighth and final round to emerge champion in the 4th Sandeep Mohanty Memorial All-Orissa Open Chess Tournament, which concluded at Secretariat Recreation Club in Bhubaneswar today.
Three players tied for the top honour with seven points each. Nayak eventually clinched title on the basis of progressive score, while Natabar Das (Bhubaneswar) and Jitendra Kumar Das (Nayagarh) finished second and third respectively. Santosh Kumar Sinha (6.5) occupied the fourth position, while top seed Parida settled with sixth position.
The top 15 finishers shared a prize fund of Rs 12,500 with the champion pocketing Rs 3,500. Altogether 87 players from seven districts participated in the three-day tournament, which was organised by Bhubaneswar Chess Association (BCA).
Labour Commissioner Alekh Chandra Padhiari presented the trophy and cash prizes at the closing function. Orissa State Chess Association secretary Smruti Ranjan Das and BCA secretary Arati Bijoy Mohanty were present on the occasion.
