Riyansh Agarwal (Sundargarh) Anannya Annwesha Mishra (Khordha) won the titles in the open and girls categories respectively at the Odisha State Under-7 Chess Championship, which was held at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar from 17 to 19 May 2025.
Riyansh and Pragyan Mishra (Khordha) tied for the title, scoring 7.5 points each out of a possible eight. But Riyansh pipped Pragyan with a better tie-break score to emerge as the new State champion, while Pragyan settled as runner-up.
In the girls category, Anannya retained title with a dominant performance, logging full eight points, while Pratyakhyaa Shambhavi (Khordha) finished runner-up with seven points.
Top six finishers in each category became eligible to represent Odisha State in the 38th National U-7 Open & Girls Chess Championships to be held at KT Global School, Barunei Road, Khordha, Odisha from 1 to 5 June 2025.
The three-day State U-7 Championship was organised by Master Chess Foundation (MCF), under the aegis of All Odisha Chess Association (AOCA), and supported by the Department of Sports & Youth Services, Government of Odisha.
A total of 66 players (45 in open category and 21 in girls category) from nine districts participated in the eight-round tournament, which carried a total prize fund of Rs 20,000.
The championship was inaugurated by DSYS Additional Secretary Bijay Kumar Swain, in the presence of ProChessTa Administrator IM Swayangsu Satyapragyan. AOCA president Satya Ranjan Patnaik graced the closing ceremony as chief guest.
AOCA secretary Debabrata Bhatta, MCF founder Bikram Keshari Biswal and chairman Santosh Kumar Mohapatra were present on the occasion. International Arbiter Suresh Chandra Sahoo was chief arbiter of the tournament and he was assisted by National Arbiter Suraj Kumar Moharana.
FINAL STANDINGS (Top 10):
OPEN CATEGORY: 1. Riyansh Agarwal, Sundargarh (7.5), 2. Pragyan Mishra, Khordha (7.5), 3. Kavyansh Chakraborty, Khordha (6), 4. Shivanshjit Sasmal, Cuttack (6), 5. Gourav Gourinandan Dash, Khordha (6), 6. Krishit Panda, Cuttack (5.5), 7. Jigyansh Kumar Sahoo, Khordha (5), 8. Virabhadra Brahma, Mayurbhanj (5), 9. Aditya Yuvan Sahoo, Khordha (5), 10. Sriansh Sahoo, Cuttack (5).
GIRLS CATEGORY: 1. Anannya Annwesha Mishra, Khordha (8), 2. Pratyakhyaa Shambhavi, Khordha (7), 3. Arnavi Panda, Cuttack (5.5), 4. Devanshi Sahoo, Khordha (5), 5. Aaradhya Moharana, Khordha (5), 7. Gareema Swain, Cuttack (5), 8. Samyra Swain, Khordha (4), 9. Aadhisree Budek, Khordha (4), 10. Anaisha Singh, Ganjam (4).
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PHOTO: Title winners and runners-up of the Odisha State U-7 Chess Championship pose with guests and organising officials in Bhubaneswar on 19 May 2025.