CUTTACK 10-Aug-2014 106
Ahraf Mohammad and Rakesh Kumar Jena emerged champions in the Odisha State Rapid & Blitz Chess Championship, which concluded at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack, today. The three-day championship was organised by Cuttack District Chess Association, under the aegis of All Odisha Chess Association (AOCA).
Ashraf and International Master Swayams Mishra made it a one-two for Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KiiT) by finishing as champion and runner-up respectively. The duo tied for the top honour, securing eight points each from nine rounds. But in the Buchholz tie-break method, Ashraf edged out International Master Swayams for the title. However, both qualified to represent Odisha in the National Blitz Championship.
Fide Master Rakesh Kumar Jena of Jajpur won the rapid title, garnering nine points out of a possible 10. He won eight games and drew the other two against top seed Soumya Ranjan Mishra and Baivab Mishra. Fide Master Soumya Ranjan Mishra of Postal Department finished runner-up with 8.5 points. The top two finishers qualified to represent the state in the National Rapid Championship.
Odisha Cricket Association secretary Asirbad Behera presented the trophy and cash prizes at the closing function. Host Cuttack District Chess Association president Santosh Kumar Prusty and secretary Vivek Kumar Tibarewal, who is also the secretary of AOCA, were present on the occasion. The championship was supervised by arbiters Nihar Ranjan Sasmal and Tapas Mohanty.
FINAL STANDINGS (Top 10):
RAPID: 1. Rakesh Kumar Jena (Jajpur, 9), 2. Soumya Ranjan Mishra (Postal, 8.5), 3. Rabindra Kumar Ojha (Cuttack, 7.5), 4. Nilsu Pattnayak (Cuttack, 7.5), 5. Amarendra Khamari (Balasore, 7.5), 6. Baivab Mishra (Puri, 7), 7. Rajesh Nayak (Puri, 7), 8. Ansuman Samal (Cuttack, 7), 9. Dasarathi Sahoo (Khurda, 7), 10. K K Bhoi (Cuttack, 7).
BLITZ: 1. Mohammad Ashraf (KiiT, 8), 2. Swayams Mishra (KiiT, 8), 3. Rakesh Kumar Jena (Jajpur, 7.5), 4. Soumya Ranjan Mishra (Khordha, 7), 5. Rajat Kumar Sahoo (Puri, 7), 6. Smaraki Mohanty (Kendrapara, 6.5), 7. Rajendra Kumar Sahu (Khordha, 6.5), 8. Rabindra Kumar Ojha (Cuttack, 6.5), 9. Soumya Ranjan Sahoo (Cuttack, 6.5), 10. Baivab Mishra (Puri, 6).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOTO: Prize winners and guests at the State Rapid & Blitz Chess Championship in Cuttack on August 10, 2014.
