Swapnil is champion

PANAJI, MAY 30. Swapnil Shah from Maharashtra became the new National champion in the third all-India open chess tournament for the blind, jointly organised by the Maharashtra Chess Association of the blind (Mumbai) and Kala Vaibhav (Goa), which concluded at Tapo Bhoomi, Kundai near Ponda in Goa.

There was a tie for the top honours between Swapnil Shah, Karthik Damle and defending champion Vilesh Bhatt (all from Maharashtra) with 6.5 points each, but Swapnil was declared winner on the basis of better progressive score. Kartik Damle finsihed second and Vilesh Bhatt third.

The final game between second-seeded Swapnil Shah and Vilesh Bhatt, who were leading with six points was a tame draw as neither of the two players took any risk.

Final placings:

1. Swapnil Shah (Mah) 6.5; 2. Kartik Damle (Mah) 6.5; 3. Vilesh Bhatt (Mah) 6.5; 4. Madan Bhagyatkar (Mah) 6; Joseph D'Mello (Mah) 6; N. Siddhaye (AP) 6; Shirish Patil (Mah) 6; Ibrahim Ingar (Guj) 6; Rajesh Ozha (Mah) 6; Dhayalan (TN) 6.

Special prizes were awarded to veteran player P. Narayan (Mah), youngest player of the tournament Siddhunth Chante (Mah), woman player Sarita Karde (Mah) and two Goan players Jashwant Nageshkar and Udai Dessai.

- UNI

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