BALASORE 13-Jan-2013 233
Railway FIDE Master Soumya Ranjan Mishra won the title and the top prize of Rs 10,000 in the All Odisha Open Chess Tournament, which concluded here at Uma Bhawan, Bhaskarganj today. He secured 8.5 points in the 10-round tournament, which was organised by Club Lori, under the auspices of Balasore District Chess Association.
In the final round, Mishra was held to a draw by former state champion Manoj Kumar Panigrahi, who finished fourth with eight points. Rajendra Kumar Sahu (Bhubaneswar) and Mohammad Ashraf (Cuttack) finished second and third with eight points each. Sahu received Rs 6,000, while Ashraf pocketed Rs 4,000. Altogether 132 players from nine districts participated in the four-day tournament. Social activist Rabindra Kumar Jena handed over the trophies and cash prizes at the closing function.
Final standings (Top 20): 1. Soumya Ranjan Mishra (8.5), Rajendra Kumar Sahu (8), 3. Mohammad Ashraf (8), 4. Manoj Kumar Panigarhi (8), 5. Pravat Kumar Ojha (8), 6. Debasis Chakrabarty (8), 7. Subhasis Barik (8), 8. Rabindra Kumar Ojha (7.5), 9. Kamal Lochan Padhi (7), 10. Srinath Bhoi (7), 11. Rajesh Nayak (7), 12. Nishit Mohanty (7), 13. Biswahari Sahoo (7), 14. Satyabrata Kar (7), 15. Jagabandu Sahu (7), 16. Rajesh Mohanty (7), 17. Ranjit Panda (7), 18. S Khirod Kumar (7), 19. Ratikanta Sahu (7), 20. Biswa Ranjan Behera (7).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOTO: Top four finishes (L to R) Soumya Mishra, Rajendra Sahu, Mohammad Ashraf and Manoj Panigrahi in Balasore on January 13, 2013.
