SHARMA Sai in Open Group and Rashmika Maringanti in Girls section annexed titles in the Nagpur District Under-19 Open and Girls Chess Championship. The championship was organised by Chess Association Nagpur in association with GH Raisoni Sports and Cultural Foundation and Kalpana Prakash Welfare Foundation at Vivekanand Hall, Shraddha House, Kingsway, near Kasturchand Park. In the Under-9 open group, Swaraj Mishra and Vishwaja Deshmukh in girls category emerged champions. The championship was conducted for selection of district chess teams for Maharashtra State Under-19 and Under-9 Open and Girls Chess Championship 2024 to be held later this year. In the Under-19 open group, Sharma Sai scored 5.5 points out of six rounds to emerge clear winner of the event. Rushikesh Lohit scored five points to finish second. Two players Sahajveer Singh Maras and Mayank Hedau scored 4.5 points each. However, they were placed third and fourth in the merit list based on their tie-break scores. In the girls Under-19 group, Rashmika Maringanti, who had won the Under-17 title last week, again excelled to bag the first position this week too with 5.5 points to her credit.

 

Krishna Taori with 4.5 points took the second position. There was three way tie for the third place between Anushka Deshpande, Tanishi Lawanya Kumar and Pooja Rakshak. They were place third to fifth in the merit list based on the tie-break scores. In the Under-9 open group, Swaraj Mishra was the clear best above all with maximum six points. Ridhaan Agrawal scored five points to finish second. Arjun Headu and Arnav Kunchalwas bagged third and fourth positions. In the girls Under -9 group, Vishwaja Deshmukh, with 5.5 points, bagged the title while Yeshasvi Barwe finished second with 4.5 points. Swara Gandhi, Sanskruti Jambhulkar and Anvika Ghodeswar scored four points to finish third, fourth and fifth respectively. Sai, Lohit, Sahjveersingh Maras and Mayank Hedau in open Under-19 group and Maringanti, Krishna Taori, Anushka Deshpande and Tanishi Lawanya Kumar in girls Under-19 group will represent Nagpur in the State championship.

 

In the Under-9 category, Swaraj Mishra and Ridhaan Agrawal in open Group and Vishwaja Deshmukh and Yeshavi Barwe in girls group will be representing the district in the State Championship. Prizes were distributed by Milind Marathe, former Secretary, Vidarbha Chess Association and treasurer of Chess Association Nagpur. SS Soman, member of MCA Observer Committee, Bhushan Shriwas, Secretary of Chess Association Nagpur and Kalpana Prakash Welfare Foundation, Akash Rewatkar and Chief Arbiter FA Shiva Iyer were present on the occasion. FA Iyer, Chief Arbiter successfully conducted the event. He was assisted by SNA Prayas Ambade, SNA Sagar Sakhare, SNA Shyam Agrawal and Prathamesh Machave. Shyam Agrawal conducted the programme and also proposed a vote of thanks.