Rajesh Nayak of Puri justified his top billing by winning the title in the 1st Maa Samaleswari All Odisha Open Chess Tournament, which concluded at Officers` Club, Rail Nagar, Sambalpur today. He garnered eight points out of a possible nine to take home the top prize of Rs 10,000.

Manish Kumar (Khurda) and Jagdish Barik (Puri) pocketed the second and third prize of Rs 6,000 and Rs 4,000 respectively. Altogether 127 players from 17 districts participated in the three-day tournament, which was organised by East Coast Railway Sports Association, Sambalpur Division in association with Sambalpur District Chess Association (SDCA).

Sambalpur Divisional Railway Manager Dr Jaideep Gupta graced the closing ceremony as chief guest and handed over the prizes. Sambalpur ADRM LVSS Patrudu, SDCA president Dr Rajib Kumar Nanda, East Coast Railway Women’s Welfare Organisation president Monika Gupta, vice-president Swarnalata Patrudu were present on the occasion.

FINAL PLACINGS (Top 10): 1. Rajesh Nayak (Puri, 8), 2. Manish Kumar (Khurda, 7.5), 3. Jagdish Barik (Puri, 7.5), 4. Rudranarayan (Puri, 7), 5. Sambit Panda (Khurda, 7), 6. Smaraki Mohanty (KIIT, 7), 7. Swapnil Priyadarshi (Khurda, 7), 8. Dasharathi Sahoo (Khurda, 7), 9. PK Bihari (Sundargarh, 7), 10. Alok Jeet Sahoo (Puri, 7).
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PHOTO: Champion Rajesh Nayak (4th from left) receives the trophy in Sambalpur on April 1, 2018.