Bira Kishore Behera emerged champion in the 7th Sundeep Mohanty Memorial Open Chess Tournament, which concluded here at Secretariat Recreation Club today. Behera and top seed Manas Ranjan Parida tied for the top spot with seven points each.

But on the basis of Buchholtz tie-break score, Behera pocked the title and a cash prize of Rs 4,000, while former champion Parida settled as runner-up. Altogether 64 players from 11 districts participated in the three-day and eight-round tournament, which was organised by Bhubaneswar Chess Association.

Odisha Secretariat Recreation Club secretary Managovinda Dalei handed over the prizes in the presence of Bhubaneswar Chess Association secretary Arati Bijoy Mohanty and chief arbiter Debasis Panigrahi.

FINAL STANDINGS (Top 10): 1. Bira Kishore Behera (7), 2. Manas Ranjan Parida (7), 3. Prabhat Kumar Ojha (6), 4. Aditya Pattnaik (6), 5. Govind Chandra Das (6), 6. Manas Singh (6), 7. Abhaya Kumar Sahoo (6), 8. Sahadeb Khatei (5.5), 9. Santosh Kumar Sinha (5.5), 10. Natabara Das (5.5).
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PHOTO: Top three finishers of the Sundeep Mohanty Memorial Open Chess Tournament in Bhubaneswar on Sept 14, 2014.