MANAS Gaikwad of Solapur and Sani Deshpande of Aurangabad won the Open and Girls titles respectively at the Maharashtra State Under-13 Open and Girls FIDE Rating Selection Chess Championship organised by Chess Association Nagpur in association with GH Raisoni Sports and Cultural Foundation and Kalpana Prakash Welfare Foundation under the aegis of Maharashtra Chess Association and All India Chess Federation at GH Raisoni Institute of Engineering and Technology College, Shraddha Park, near MIDC Police Station, Hingna.

Manas drew last round with Nagpur’s Arush Chitre to earn seven points.

However, the second board saw a long battle between Boominathan Lalitaditaayyanar and top seed Viresh Sharnarthi both from Pune. Boominathan emerged victorious to get tied at seven points. Manas was declared winner on tie break score pipping Boominathan to second.

Arush Chitre, Shaunak Badole both from Nagpur, Nihaan Pohone of Chandrapur and Vivaan Saraogi of Nagpur scored 6.5 points each and were placed 3rd to 6th positions in the final list.

In the girls group, games on top two boards ended in draws with three players Sani Deshpande of Aurangabad, Divya Patil of Kolhapur and Shraddha Bajaj of Nagpur scoring 6.5 points each.

However, on application of tie breakers, Sani was declared winner followed by Divya Patil as runners-up. Nagpur’s Shraddha Bajaj finished third in the final standings.

Disha Patil of Kolhapur, Ishawari Jagdale of Sangli, Vedika Pal, Vritika Game both of Nagpur and Swarali Hatvalne of Solapur scored 6 points each and were placed from 4th to 8th position respectively on the basis of the tie break score.

Among the Nagpur girls, Shraddha Bajaj had a great event defeating 3rd Seed Disha Patil of Kolhapur. Her only loss in the tournament was against the ultimate winner. Vedika Pal, too, showed prowess by beating top seed Sannidhi Bhat. In the open group, Arush Chitre and Shaunak Badole played solid chess to remain unbeaten in the event.

Manas, Boominathan in open group and Sani, Divya in girls group will represent Maharashtra in National Under Chess Championship to be held later this year.

Prizes were distributed by Dr Vivek Kapoor, Director, Raisoni Group. Bhushan Shriwas, Secretary, Chess Association Nagpur and Kalpana Prakash Welfare Foundation, Chief Arbiter IA Ajinkya Pingle shared the dias. SS Soman compered the programme and also proposed a vote of thanks.