Local International Master Swayams Mishra justified his top billing by winning the title in the Odisha State Rapid Chess Championship at Barabati Stadium here today. Mishra scored 8.5 points in the nine-round tournament, winning eight games and drawing one against fellow IM Anwesh Upadhyaya (Bhubaneswar), who finished third with 7.5 points.

Third seed Mohammad Asraf, who caused an upset by defeating second seed Upadhyaya in the seventh round, became runner-up with 7.5 points. Altogether 74 players participated in the two-day event, which was hosted by Cuttack District Chess Association, under the aegis of All Odisha Chess Association.

FINAL STANDINGS (Top 10): 1. Swayams Mishra (8.5); 2-3. Mohammad Ashraf, Anwesh Upadhyaya (each 7.5); 4-5. Rajesh Nayak, Ansuman Samal (each 7); 6. Rakesh Kumar Jena (6.5); 7-10. Rabindra Kumar Ojha, Gyana Ranjan Sethi, Rakesh Kumar Nayak, Sradhanjali Jena (each 6).