Smaraki Mohanty of Kendrapara regained the title after a gap of two years in the Odisha State Women`s Chess Championship at K C Public School in Berhampur today. A student of Bhubaneswar based KIIT University, Smaraki finished at the top of the table with 4.5 points from five rounds.

Akankhya Kabi (Bhubaneswar) settled as runner-up with four points, while Rutumbara Bidhar (Bhubaneswar) and Krushna Mishra (Balasore) occupied the third and fourth positions, garnering four and 3.5 points respectively. Altogether 19 players vied for the title in the three-day championship, which was hosted by Ganjam District Chess Association (GDCA), under the aegis of All Odisha Chess Association.

Top four finishers qualified to represent Odisha in the 41st National Women Challenger Chess Championship to be held at in Goa from September 6 to 15. GDCA secretary Krushna Kumar Sharma gave away the prizes at the closing ceremony.
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PHOTO: Top four finishers (L to R) Smaraki Mohanty, Akankhya Kabi, Rutumbara Bidhar and Krushna Mishra with their prizes in Berhampur on July 6, 2014.