Priyanka Routray and Srihan Sabat won the titles in girls and open cetegories respectively at the Odisha State Junior (Under 19) Chess Championship, which concluded at JRD Hotel in Sundargarh today.

Local favourite Priyanka Routray scored 4.5 points from rounds to clinch the girls title and a cash prize of Rs 2,500. Shradha Smaranika Nanda (Cuttack) became runner-up with four points.

In the open category, second seed Shrihan of Ganjam emerged champion with 6.5 points from seven rounds. He also received a cash prize of Rs 2,500 and a trophy. Top seed Aditya Ranjan Samal (Sundergarh) settled as runner-up with six points.

The top four finishers in both categories qualified to represent Odisha officially in the National Junior (U-19) Open & Girls Chess Championships, which is scheduled be held in Gujarat from 20 to 28 September 2023.

The three-day State championship, carrying a total prize fund of Rs 20,000, was organized by Sundegarh District Chess Association (SDCA), under the auspices of All Odisha Chess Association (AOCA).

Trophies and cash prizes were handed over by industrialist Sanjay Nanda and Sundergarh Municipality Chairman Tanaya Mishra. AOCA secretary Debabrata Bhatta, SDCA president Sarat Das and secretary Alok Kumar Dutta were present in the presentation ceremony.

The championship was conducted by the chief arbiter Suresh Chandra Sahoo and international arbiter Prasanna Kumar Nayak.

FINAL STANDINGS (Top 10):

GIRLS: 1. Priyanka Routray (Sundergarh, 4.5 points), 2. Shradha Smaranika Nanda (Cuttack, 4), 3. Shreesti Shreyasi (Puri, 3.5), 4. Ayushi Mohanty (Puri, 3), 5. Kanishka Nayak (Jharsuguda, 3), 6. Rutushree Rutuprava Sahoo (Dhenkanal, 2.5), 7. Esha Xess (Sundergarh. 2.5), 8. Muskan Sinha (Jharsuguda, 2), 9. Sanoja Xess (Sundergarh, 2), 10. Amberin Hussain (Sundergarh, 2).

OPEN: 1. Shrihan Sabat (Ganjam, 6.5 points), 2. Aditya Ranjan Samal (Sundergarh, 6), 3. Ayushman Mohanty (Puri, 5.5), 4. Surraj Mohanta (Balangir, 5.5), 5. Likhit Sakunia (Jharsuguda, 5.5), 6. Vaibhav Agarwal (Sundergarh, 5), 7. Mrutyunjay Mondal (Cuttack, 5), 8. Babula Bhoi (Koraput, 5), 9. Himanshu Sekhar Pradhan (Puri, 5), 10. Shreeansh Bindal (Jharsuguda, 5).
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PHOTO: Top four prize winners pose with guests and organising officials at the presentation ceremony of the State Junior Chess Championship in Sundargarh on 20 August 2023.