International Master Rakesh Kumar Jena and Lalit Ranjan Sahu won the senior and junior titles respectively in the Cuttack District Chess Championship, which was organised by Cuttack District Chess Association (CDCA) at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack on 13 and 14 January 2024.

Rakesh scored 6.5 points 6.5 points from seven rounds to claim the top prize of Rs 5,000 and the trophy. Harshit Ranjan Sahu finished runner-up with 5.5 points. Lalit garned garnered 6.5 points from seven games to clinch the junior title, while Sai Sourav Das settled as runner-up.

All India Chess Federation joint-secretary Ranjan Mohanty was the chief guest of the closing ceremony. All Odisha Chess Association secretary Debabrata Bhatta, CDCA president Vivek Tibarewal and secretary Ajaya Kumar Nayak were present on the occasion.

FINAL STANDINGS (Top 10):

Senior: 1. Rakesh Kumar Jena (6.5), 2. Harshit Ranjan Sahu (5.5), 3. Rabindra Kumar Ojha (5), 4. Ansuman Samal (5), 5. Swastik Suvam Patnaik (5), 6. Soumya Ranjan Sahoo (5), 7. Narayan Swain (4.5), 8. Ranjan Mohanty (4.5), 9. Pratyush Nayak (4), 10. Sai Shakti Panda (4).

Junior: 1. Lalit Ranjan Sahu (6.5), 2. Sai Sourav Das (6), 3. Shradha Smaranika Nanda (6), 4. Gyanajyoti Singh (6), 5. Sayansh Das (6), 6. Biswa Preet Ray (6), 7. Satyam Swarup Sahoo (5.5), 8. Shreeharsh Mohanty (5), 9. Abhijeet Singh (5), 10. E Ragini (5).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOTO: Prize winners with guests at the presentation ceremony of the Cuttack District Chess Championship on 14 January 2024.