KIIT University student Mohammad Ashraf justified his top billing by pocketing the title in the Odisha State Youth (U-25) Chess Championship at DAV School, Gandhi Nagar, Berhampur today. He capped his campaign in style, winning all of his six games.
Ashraf beat Baivab Mishra in the sixth and last round to receive the top prize of Rs 1,800. Baivab settled with the runner-up prize of Rs 1,350. Both Ashraf and Baivab qualified to represent Odisha in the Youth National Chess Championship to be held in Kerala from October 1 to 10.
Final standings (Top 10): 1. Mohammad Ashraf (6), 2. Baivab Mishra (5), 3. Rakesh Kumar Nayak (5), 4. Rajesh Nayak (5), 5. Ashirwad Swain (4.4), 6. Jitendra Kumar Das (4.5), 7. Lochan Kumar Das (4.5), 8. Mahesh Prasad Sethi (4), 9. Rajesh Kumar Nayak (4), 10. Rajesh Mohanty (4).