In a critical moment, Aryan missed a chance to force a perpetual draw, eventually losing the game. This pivotal result pushed Soundarya into fourth place, securing him a place in the Indian team for the IBCA Blind Chess Olympiad and the IBCA Individual World Championship to be held this year in Serbia and Poland respectively.

Meanwhile, Kishan Gangolli lived up to his reputation with a commanding win over BL Somender, and Darpan Irani outplayed Subhendu Patra on board three to seal the championship title. While Aryan finished third, the fifth position went to Milind Samant of Maharashtra, who defeated K Marimuthu in the final round.

With a prize fund larger than ever before, the championship made history with cash awards for the top ten players. Among other three Odisha players in the fray, Prachurya Pradhan finished seventh, while Subhendu Kumar Patra (5.5) and Deepak Kumar Bhoi (4) secured the 13th and 37th positions respectively.

The five-day National championship, featuring a total of 52 players from 15 states and union territories, was hosted by Odisha Chess Association for the Visually Challenged (OCAVC), under the aegis of All India Chess Federation for the Blind (AICFB), in collaboration with Sai International School, with the support of the Department of Sports & Youth Services, Government of Odisha.

The prize distribution ceremony was graced by DSYS Director Deepankar Mohapatra and SAI Residential School Principal Amitabh Agnihotri as chief guest and guest of honour respectively. OCAVC secretary Soundarya Pradhan, Prochessta Administrator IM Swayangsu Satyapragyan, chief arbiter M Manjunath, deputy chief arbiter Pinky Mohapatra and arbiter Kesha Ranjan Pradhan were present on the occasion.

TOP FIVE PRIZE WINNERS WITH POINTS: 1. Darpan Irani, Gujarat, 7.5 pts (Rs 75,000), 2. Kishan Gangolli, Karnataka, 7.5 pts (Rs 50,000), 3. Aryan B Joshi, Maharashtra, 7 pts (Rs 35,000), 4. Soundarya Kumar Pradhan, Odisha, 7 pts (Rs 30,000), 5. Milind Samant, Maharashtra, 6.5 pts (Rs 20,000).
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TOP: Top five prize winners pose with guests at the 18th AICFB National Premier Chess Championship for the Visually Challenged in Cuttack on 6 April 2025.
RIGHT: Odisha blind chess icon and OCAVC general secretary Soundarya Kumar Pradhan receives his fourth-position prize in Cuttack on on 6 April 2025.