BHUBANESWAR 26-Jun-2016
Experienced campaigner Manas Ranjan Parida emerged champion in the 23rd Makhanlal Halder Memorial Open Chess Tournament, which was organised by Puri District Chess Association (PDCA) at Durgabaadi Samiti in Puri from June 24 to 26, 2016.
Bhubaneswar veteran Parida and Bira Kishore Behera (Puri) garnered eight points each from a possible nine to tie for the top spot. But Parida took the title on the basis of Buchholz tie-break score, while Behera settled as runner-up.
Altogether 118 players from Odisha, West Bengal and Bihar participated in the nine-round tournament. Puri Deputy Collector Sumanta Kumar Kar handed over the prizes at the closing function. Orissa State Chess Association (OSCA) secretary Smruti Ranjan Das, vice-President Arati Bijoy Mohanty, PDCA president Kumar Halder, secretary Dr Bimal Prasad Mohanty and chief arbiter Debasis Panigrahi were present on the occasion.
FINAL PLACINGS (Top 10): 1. Manas Ranjan Parida (BBSR, 8), 2. Bira Kishore Behera (Puri, 8), 3. Prakash Chandra Sahoo (Puri, 7), 4. Amarnath Gupta (Bihar, 7), 5. Yogendra Prasad Srivastava (Bihar, 7), 6. Dhirendra Kumar Das (7), 7. Manas Singh (6.5), 8. Prabhat Kumar Ojha (6.5), 9. Chandan Kumar Pradhan (6.5), 10. Amarendra Khamari (6.5).
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PHOTO: Champion Manas Ranjan Parida with his trophy in Puri on June 26, 2016.
