BHUBANESWAR 08-Jul-2012 169
Aparajita Gochhikar won the title in the Odisha State Women Chess Championship, which concluded at City High School in Berhampur today. Top seed Aparajita of Puri scored 4.5 points in the five-round championship to take home the top prize of Rs 1,250. This was her third title triumph in the State women’s championship, the first two coming in 2008 and 2010.
Defending champion Smaraki Mohanty from Kendrapara ended runner-up in the two-day-long championship despite garnering 4.5 points. Priyanka Sahoo (Puri) and Gitashree Biswal (Cuttack) finished third and fourth respectively.
Altogether 22 players from six districts participated in the state championship, which was hosted by Ganjam District Chess Association under the aegis of All Orissa Chess Association. The top four finishers qualified to represent Odisha in the 39th National Challengers Chess Championship, scheduled to be held New Delhi from August 17 to 26.
FINAL STANDINGS (Top 10): 1. Aparajita Gochhikar (4.5), 2. Smaraki Mohanty(4.5), 3. Priyanka Sahoo (4), 4. Gitashree Biswal (3.5), 5. Shreya Smruti Mohanty (3.5), 6. Saganika Pratihari (3), 7. Rupal Mishra (3), 8. Swoyamdarshini Supakar (3), 9. Ankita Sahoo (3), 10. Salini Sahu (3).
