Lalit Ranjan Sahu and Jayalakshmi Sahoo clinched double for host Cuttack, winning titles in the open and girls categories respectively at the Odisha State U-15 Chess Championship, which was organised by Cuttack District Chess Association (CDCA), under the auspices of All Odisha Chess Association (AOCA) at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack from 19 to 21 October 2024.

Both Lalit and Jayalakshmi scored 6.5 points out of a possible seven to receive a cash award of Rs 2,500 each. Aryan Behera and Shradha Smaranika Nanda finished runner-up in open and girls categories respectively. A total of 149 players, including 52 girls, participated in the three-day championship.

Top four finishers in each category qualified to represent Odisha in the National U-15 Chess Championship to be held in Hosur, Tamil Nadu from 3 to 11 November 2024. Choudwar-Cuttack MLA Souvic Biswal was the chief guest of the prize distribution ceremony and handed over the trophies.

AOCA secretary Debabrata Bhatta, CDCA president Vivek Tibarewal, secretary Ajay Kumar Barik, chief arbiter Nihar Ranjan Sasmal and deputy chief arbiter Tapas Kumar Mohanty were present on the occasion.

FINAL PLACINGS (Top 10):

OPEN CATEGORY: 1. Lalit Ranjan Sahu, Cuttack (6.5), 2. Aryan Behera, Jajpur (6), 3. Shrihan Sabat, Ganjam (6), 4. Swastik Suvam Patnaik, Cuttack (5.5), 5. Ayush Aryan Mohapatra, Kendrapara (5.5), 6. Aditya Vikram Mishra, Khordha (5.5), 7. Pratyush Nayak, Cuttack (5), 8. Pratyasha Jena, Cuttack (5), 9. K Saikrishna Dora, Ganjam (5), 10. Ritwik Raj Mishra, Khordha (5).

GIRLS CATEGORY: 1. Jayalakshmi Sahoo, Cuttack (6.5), 2. Shradha Smaranika Nanda, Cuttack (6), 3. Snehayukta Behera, Ganjam (5.5), 4. Padmini Panigrahi, Ganjam (5), 5. Shreesti Shreyasi, Puri (5), 6. Jyotika Sahoo, Cuttack (5), 7. Dristi Pradhan, Rourkela (5), 8. Sayee Atreyi Mohapatra, Cuttack (5), 9. Ishani Das, Khordha (4.5), 10. Nainika Sahoo, Khordha (4.5).
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PHOTO: Leading prize winners (L-R) Shradha Smaranika Nanda, Padmini Panigrahi, Snehayukta Behera, Jayalakshmi Sahoo, Swastik Suvam Patnaik, Lalit Ranjan Sahu and Aryan Behera pose with guests and organising officials at the closing ceremony in Cuttack on 21 October 2024.