Lalit Ranjan Sahu (Odisha) emerged champion in the 4th IS Open International FIDE Rated Chess Tournament, which was organised by IS Chess Centre at Riddhi Siddhi Kalyan Mandap, Mahanadi Vihar, Cuttack from 27 to 31 March 2025. He scored eight points out of a possible nine to receive the top prize of Rs 15,000.

Shreyaskar Tanti (West Bengal) finished runner-up with 7.5 points. He pocketed Rs 12,000. Rabindra Kumar Ojha (Odisha) secured the third prize of Rs 10,000, garnering 7.5 points. The total prize fund of the tournament was Rs 2 lakh.

Manish Mishra (Odisha), Biswa Preet Ray (Odisha), Ahanjit Banerjee (West Bengal), Ayush Aryan Mohapatra (Odisha), Sangbit Ghosh (West Bengal), Subhendu Kumar Patra (Odisha) and Gyana Jyoti Singh (Odisha) secured fourth to 10th positions respectively in the final rankings.

A total of 248 players from eight states participated in the nine-round tournament. IS Centre chief Manas Pani, president Manoj Kumar Pati, social activist Amiya Ranjan Routray and All Odisha Chess Association secretary Debabrata Bhatta gave away the prizes at the closing ceremony.

Chief arbiter Suresh Chandra Sahoo, deputy chief arbiter Santosh Kumar Mohapatra, arbiters Premjit Debnath and Suraj Kumar Moharana were present on the occasion.
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PHOTO: Top three prize winners, Lalit Ranjan Sahu (Centre), Shreyaskar Tanti (Left) and Rabindra Kumar Ojha (Right) pose with guests and officials at the 4th IS Open International FIDE Rated Chess Tournament in Cuttack on 31 March 2025.