Bhubaneswar: Shrihan Sabat from Berhampur in Ganjam district emerged unbeaten champion in the U-19 Open category of the Odisha State Junior (U-19) Chess Championship held at Sundargarh’s JRD Hotel.
Second-seeded Shrihan earned 6.5 points out of a possible 7 to bag the winner’s trophy and cash prize of Rs 2,500.
Top-seeded Aditya Ranjan Samal of Sundargarh district was runner-up with 6 points, followed by Ayushman Mohanty (Puri, 5.5 points) and Surraj Mohanta (Balangir, 5.5).
In the U-19 girls’ competition, No. 1 seed Priyanka Routray of Sundargarh topped the standings with 4.5 points in 5 rounds to lift the trophy and pocket Rs 2,500.
Cuttack’s Shradha Smaranika Nanda (4 points) and Shreesti Shreyasi (Puri, 3.5 pts) finished second and third, respectively.
The top four finishers of both events will represent Odisha at the forthcoming National Junior (U-19) Open & Girls’ Chess Championships to be held in Gujarat from September 20 to 28.
