Puri players asserted supremacy in the 62nd Odisha State Senior Fide Rating Open Chess Championship with Utkal Ranjan Sahoo winning the title and Rajesh Nayak finishing runner-up for the district today.

The State championship was organised by Balasore District Chess Association (BDCA), under the aegis of All Odisha Chess Association (AOCA) at Balasore Club in Balasore from 5 to 8 November 2022.

In the eight-round tournament, top seed Utkal emerged top scorer with 7.5 points. Staying unbeaten throughout, he won seven games and drew one to take home the top prize of Rs 10,000.

A total of 107 players from 16 districts participated in this championship, which offered a total cash prize of Rs 50,000.

Third seed Rajesh Nayak (6.5 points) received Rs 7,000 as runner-up. Koustuv Dash (Khordha) and Tapan Badamundi (Gajapati) secured the third and fourth position respectively.

The top four finishers qualified to officially represent Odisha in the 59th National Senior Chess Championship, which is scheduled to be held in New Delhi from 22 December 2022 to 3 January 2023.

All India Chess Federation Joint Secretary Ranjan Mohanty was the chief guest of the prize-distribution ceremony. AOCA Secretary Debabrata Bhatta, BDCA Secretary Manoranjan Panda and Balasore Club Secretary Sarosh Bodhanwal were present on the occasion.

The State championship was conducted by the chief arbiter Suresh Chandra Sahoo, international arbiter Bhabesh Mohanty.
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PHOTO: Top four finishers (R-L), Utkal Ranjan Sahoo, Rajesh Nayak, Koustuv Dash and Tapan Badamundi pose with their trophies in Balasore on 8 November 2022.