Sneha Halder and Ilamparthi A R clinch Gold in National U-9

32nd National U9 Open and Girls chess championship, 2018, Ranchi

Report by IA Paul Arokia Raj

Fifth seed Sneha Halder (Bengal ) was crowned as the national under 9 girls champion when she amassed nine points after drawing with Indira Priyadarshini (Tamil Nadu) in the eleventh and the final round of the 32nd national under 9 girls championship which got concluded on Sunday at Ranchi.

Suhaani Lohia (Maharastra) also secured nine points after defeating Panchal Hia (Gujarat) in an enterprising miniature game. In a two way tie for the title Sneha Halder was adjudged as the champion based on Direct encounter tie break rules as she had defeated Suhaani Lohia in the eighth round. For the third place four players tied with 8.5 points and it was Tamil Nadu’s Indira Priyadharshini who was declared third on account of her higher Buchholtz score.

However, in the boys section with the championship issue having settled one round in advance, the final round witnessed a fierce battle being fought for the second place. Mayak Chakraborthy (Assam) who outwitted G.Akash (Tamil Nadu) was the runner up with 9 points. In a three way tie Mayak with a better buchholtz score relegated Bharadia Yash (Rajastan) and CM Bhagat Gush ( Maharastra) to the third and the fourth spot.

Suhaani Lohia was too good in handling the Sicilian defense in her game against Panchal Hia in the final round. White’s queen was almost trapped when Suhaani brilliantly posted her knight at d4 square in the opening part of the game. When the white’s queen started running for life deserting the uncastled king at the centre it was a cake walk for Suhaani to announce a checkmate on her 20th move.

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The final round was a nightmare for the under 9 open champion Ilamparthi A R when he tasted his first defeat in this championship at the hands of CM Kush Bhagat (Maharastra) in a game involving Sicilian dragon. Kush Bhagat came up with a sound opening preparation and stunned white by sacrificing an exchange in the centre on his 14th move. In the eventual moves that followed Ilamparthi lost his grip over the position and finally, when he became an exchange down he resigned on his 47th move. This crucial loss deprived Ilamparthi of becoming an unbeaten champion of this event.

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In a glittering closing ceremony Shri.Deepak Kumar Maroo, President, Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and industry distributed the prizes to the winners.

Open: Final Ranking

Girls: Final Ranking