SHIVA Iyer was the only player who won all his eight rounds to emerge champion in Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Maharashtra State-Level Online Rapid Chess Tournament results of which were declared on Monday. The two-day event concluded on Sunday but organisers announced the results after getting the anti-cheating report. The meet was a joint venture of Department of Physical Education and Sport of Dhanwate National College, Congress Nagar and Nagpur District Chess Association.

 

The tournament was held to commemorate the 122nd birth anniversary of Krushiratna Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh. Among five players who shared lead on the opening day with four points each, an in-form Iyer, who has bagged a number of rapid and blitz titles this season, kept his slate clean. In the eighth and final round, Iyer, playing with black pieces on the top board, defeated Priyanshu Patil (6). Siddhant Gawai was the second best player and lost just one game in the tournament. In the final round, Gawai outsmarted Aryan Deogade (6) on the third board playing with white pieces. Dishank Bajaj (6.5), who agreed to a truce with Nilay Kulkarni in the last round ended the event at third place. Deogade and Patil, with an identical six points each, took the fourth and fifth positions respectively. As many as 95 players from different districts of Maharashtra State took part in the tournament. Dr Surendra Jichkar, Principal, Dhanwate National College was chief guest of prize distribution function held on the college premises. He started the proceedings by paying tributes to Deshmukh.

 

The top players were rewarded with cash prizes and certificates. NDCA’s Umesh Panbude Chief Arbiter Pravin Pantawane, Nitin Chopade, parents and participants were present on the occasion. De Devendra Wankhade conducted the proceedings while Prof Jayant Jichkar proposed a vote of thanks. RESULTS (Eighth Round): Priyanshu Patil (6) lost to Shiva Iyer (8), Dishank Bajaj (6.5) drew with Nilay Kulkarni (5.5), Siddhant Gawai (7) bt Aryan Deogade (6), Sanskar Gaigore (5) lost to Aditya Bodkhe (5), Bhavik Chaudhary (5) lost to Sooraj Jaiswal (6), Nihaan Pohane (6) bt Krupal Wanjari (5), TS Patil (5) lost to Sumedh Ramteke (5), Saksham Singh (6) bt Aastha Turankar (5), Sagar Karankar (5) bt Sai Tarkar (4), Vallabh Bhake (4) lost to Yash Waghmare (5).