INTERNATIONAL Master Neelash Saha emerged rapid champion while Grandmaster Debashis Das took the honours in blitz category at 2nd GH Raisoni Memorial All India FIDE Rapid and Blitz Rating Tournament that concluded on Sunday. The two-day mega event was organised by Kalpana Prakash Welfare Foundation in Association with GH Raisoni Sports and Cultural Foundation at the latter’s GH Raisoni Institute of Engineering and Technology, Shraddha Park, MIDC, Nagpur. Saha won eight of his nine matches and drew one to finish at the top with 8.5 points. He was followed by IM Audi Ameya and CM Kushagra Mohan, who gathered an identical eight points each, at the second and third spots respectively. GM Das was a big disappointment as he ended ninth with seven points just a rung above the best Under-13 player Akshay Borgaonkar, who also finished with seven points.

 

Dr Sharad Suryawanshi, Director, Physical Education, Nagpur University and Dr Vivek Kapur, Director, GHRIET were chief guest and guest of honour respectively of the prize distribution function. Adv AA Bade, Shvi Chhatrapati Awardee; Sachidanand Soman, Member Tournament Committee; Bhushan Shriwas, Organising Chairman and Secretary, Kalpana Prakash Welfare Foundation; IA Promodraj Moree were present on the dais. With overwhelming response of 344 entries in rapid and 301 entries in blitz organisers have decided to conduct national and international events in coming months. Total 105 prizes were distributed. SS Soman proposed a vote of thanks. Chief Arbiter IA Promodraj Moree was assisted by IA Pravin Pantawane, IA Swapnil Bansod, FA Pravin Thakre, FA Shubham Soni, SNA Sheetal Panbude, SNA Swati Kumbhalkar, Amit Temburne, Prayas Ambade, Amit Bhongare, Gayatri Panbude, Shishir Indurkar, Vikrant Chole, Satish Pusdekar, Pratik Dhage, Abjiheet Maidamwar, Tanvi Thakur and Vivek Joshi worked hard for success of the tournament.