Srinath Makes Hat-Trick In Asian Junior

Srinath Makes Hat-Trick In Asian Junior
By Arvind Aaron

International Master Narayanan Srinath of Chennai completed a rare hat-trick by winning the Asian Junior three times in a row. He remained undefeated in the Philippines and scored eight points from nine games to finish one point ahead of the rest of the 8-nation field.

Srinath had won the Asian Junior first at Tashkent 2012 and at Sharjah in 2013. He had won the World Under-12 title as well. Saranya’s second place among girls is a clear sign that this Chennai girl is improving. She gains over 15 Elo. Ivana Furtado is a former Asian junior girls’ champion. She started as the first seed and is losing about 14.4 Elo.

Suede, a Physical Education student became the first Philippine girl to win this Asian Junior Chess Championship. She denied Indians of the podium sweep. J Saranya and former champion Ivana Furtado occupied the second and third places to pick silver and bronze.

A total of 16 girls and 14 boys took part in this nine round Swiss format competition. The event was organised by the Asian Chess Federation. IA Casto Abundo from the Philippines acted as the chief arbiter. The venue was Tagaytay City in the Philippines. It took place from November 29 to December 4, 2014.

Open: 1 IM N Srinath (Ind) 8/9; 2 FM Paulo Bersamina (Phi) 7; 3 IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia (Phi) 6.5; 4-5. FM Sumiya Bilguun (Mgl), Daryl Unix Samantila (Phi) 5.5 each; 6 Bibek Thing (Nep) 5; 7-9. CM Marc Christian Nazario (Phi), Istraelito Rilloraza (Phi), John Merill Jacutina (Phi) 4.5 each; 10 Haque Siam Ikramul (Ban) 4…14 players.

Girls: 1 Charlene Mikee Suede (Phi) 7.5/9; 2 WFM J Saranya (Ind) 6.5; 3-4. WIM Ivana Furtado (Ind), WFM Sholpan Zhylkaidarova (Kaz) 6 each; 5-6. WFM Antoinette San Diego (Phi), WFM Rucha Pujari (Ind) 5.5; 7-10. P.V. Nandhidhaa (Ind), WFM Shania Mae Mendoza (Phi), Jerlyn Mae San Diego (Phi), Supriya Joshi (Ind) 5 each…16 players.