Woman Grandmaster Padmini Rout (Orissa) and International Master M R Lalith Babu (AP) emerged champions in the 25th Girls and 40th Open Junior (u-19) National Chess Championships, which concluded at Indoor Stadium in Puri today. World Junior bronze medallist Padmini drew her 11th and final round with WIM P Lakshmi Sahiti (AP) to finish with 9.5 points. Ch Divyasri held her Andhra Pradesh statemate I Ramya Krishna to a draw to finish runner-up with nine points.

In the open category, Lalith Babu and IM M Shyam Sundar (TN) tied for the top spot with 8.5 points each. The title eventually went to Babu on the basis of Buchholz tie-break method. In the 11th and final round, Babu split point with Delhi IM Sahaj Grover, while runner-up Shyam Sundar beat Adiya Udeshi (Maharashtra).

Top 18 finishers in each category shared a prize fund of Rs 75,000 with the champion and runner-up receiving Rs 17,000 and Rs 12,000 respectively.

Final standings (Top 10):

Girls: 1. Padmini Rout (9.5), 2. Ch Divyasri (9), 3. J Saranya (TN, 8), 4. R Bharathi (TN, 7.5), 5. P Lakshmi Sahiti (AP, 7.5), 6. Pon N Krithika (TN, 7), 7. Bhakti Kulkarni (Goa, 7), 8. Cholleti Sahajasri (AP, 7), 9. A Akshaya (TN, 7), 10. I Ramya Krishna (AP, 7).

Open: 1. MR Lalith Babu (8.5), 2. M Shyam Sundar (8.5), 3. P Shyam Nikil (TN, 8), 4. Anwesh Upadhyaya (Ori, 8), 5. Sahaj Grover (Del, 8), 6. CRG Krishna (AP, 8), 7. Swayams Mishra (Ori, 7.5), 8. Aditya Udeshi (Mah, 7.5), 9. K Priyadarshan (TN, 7.5), 10. Girish A Koushik (Kar, 7.5).