Bhubaneswar boy Sankalp Baliarsingh and Jajpur girl Sovna Sonali Jena emerged champions in the Odisha State Under-11 Chess Championship, which concluded at Ganesh Institute of Engineering & Technology (GIET) in Chandikhol (Jajpur) today.

Despite being held to a draw by Rudraksh Parida (Khurda) in the seventh and final round, Fide Master Baliarsing finished at the top of the table with 6.5 points in the boys` category. Ansumal Samal (Cuttack) emerged runner-up with six points.

In the six-round girls` competition, Sovna and Sweta Senapati (Angul) tied for the top spot with 5.5 points apiece. However, local favourite Sovna took the title, pipping Sweta in the Buchholtz tie-break score 23-19.

Altogether 84 players, including 27 girls participated in the three-day championship, which was organised by Mahavinayak Chess Academy in association with Jajpur United Chess Association.

GIET chairman Bibhuti Bhusan Tripathy handed over the trophies and cash prizes in the presence of GIET Principal Asique Iqbal and All Orissa Chess Association secretary Vivek Kumar Tibarewal.

Top two finishers in both the boys and girls categories qualified to represent the state in the National U-11 Open and Girls Chess Championship, scheduled to be held in Jharkhand from August 5 to 14.