Jajpur boy Aryan Behera and Khordha girl Amruta Priyalaxmi won the titles in the Odisha State Under-13 Open & Girls Chess Championship, which concluded at Shree Jagannath Stadium in Puri today. Aryan emerged champion in the open category with 7.5 points out of possible eight, while Amruta triumphed in girls category, scoring 6.5 points from eight rounds.

Swastik Suvam Patnaik (Cuttack) and Arnica Dash (Khordha) finished runners-up in open and girls categories respectively. The four-day championship, featuring 128 players, including 40 girls, was organised by District Chess Association of Puri (DCAP), under the aegis of All Odisha Chess Association (AOCA), and with the support of the Department of Sports & Youth Services (DSYS), Government of Odisha.

The State championship carried a total prize fund of Rs 20,000. Entree fee was Rs 700 per player. The top two finishers in both the categories qualified to represnt Odisha in the 38th National U-13) Open & Girls Chess Championships, scheduled to be held in Margao, Goa from 3 to 9 September 2025.

DSYS Deputy Director Santosh Kumar Sethy attended the prize distribution ceremony as chief guest. DCAP vice-president Suresh Chandra Sahoo, secretary Pradyumna Mishra, treasurer Jagannath Singhari, tournament director Subash Chandra Sahoo and international arbiter Santosh Kumar Mohapatra were present on the occasion.

FINAL STANDINGS (Top 10):

OPEN CATEGORY: 1. Aryan Behera, Jajpur (7.5), 2. Swastik Suvam Patnaik, Cuttack (7), 3. Shiyam Satyansh, Khordha (6.5), 4. Aadarsh Kumar Beriha, Khordha (6), 5. Sarthak Mohanty, Khordha (6), 6. Dibyansu Das, Khordha (6), 7. AFM Vineet Nayak, Khordha (5.5), 8. AFM Aditya Jena, Khordha (5.5), 9. Adya Advit Das, Khordha (5.5), 10. Suryansu Mahakud, Khordha (5.5).

GIRLS CATEGORY: 1. Amruta Priyalaxmi, Khordha (6.5), 2. Arnica Dash, Khordha (6.5), 3. Nivrita Pattnaik, Cuttack (6), 4. Subhasmita Priyadarshinim, Khordha (5.5), 5. Anushree Padhy, Ganjam (5.5), 6. Anisha Acharya Ganjam (5.5), 7. AFM Ishani Das, Khordha (5.5), 8. Ayesha Mohanty, Khordha (5.5), 9. Nainika Sahoo, Khordha (5), 10. Sanvi Mishra, Dhenkanal (5).
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PHOTO: Top two finishers (L-R) Swastik Suvam Patnaik, Aryan Behera, Amruta Priyalaxmi and Arnica Dash pose with guests and officials at the Odisha State Under-13 Chess Championship in Puri on 11 August 2025.