Team Orisports 30-May-2016
Russia Grandmaster Boris Grachev emerged champion in the Elite category of the 9th KIIT International Chess Festival, which concluded at KIIT University here today. Grachev scored 8.5 points out of a possible 10 to take home the first prize of Rs 2 lakh. Grandmaster Ivan Popov (Russia), and Indian Candidate Master V S Rathanvel finished second and third respectively with 7.5 points each.
Popov received Rs 1 lakh, while Tamil Nadu boy Rathanvel was given Rs 80,000. A total of 201 players, including 13 Grand Masters, 2 Women Grand Masters, 14 International Masters, 1 Women International Master, 12 FIDE Masters, 1 Women FIDE Master and 9 Candidate Masters from 11 countries participated in the Elite category, which carried a total prize fund of Rs 10 lakh. Sidhant Mohapatra was the most successful Odisha player, securing ninth position with 7.5 points.
