Deep Sengupta bags under-12 title

AHMEDABAD, MAY 24. Bihar's Deep Sengupta annexed the under-12 boys' chess title after the ninth and final round of the 13th National children's chess here today.

Top-seeded Sengupta won his second National title scoring a fluent win over K. Nikhilesh Kumar of Andhra Pradesh. The Bihar player accumulated eight points from a possible nine. Sen Gupta controlled the centre and attacked the Kingside of Nikhilesh to clinch the issue in 37 moves.

True to her reputation International Woman Master and the highest FIDE-rated player of the championship K. Hummpy of Andhra Pradesh has remained unbeaten throughout to score 8.5 points from maximum possible nine to pocket the under-14 boys trophy

S. Nabeela Farheen and L. Shobhana, both of Tamil Nadu, with 7.5 points each, have bagged under-12 boys, under-14 and under-12 girls trophies, respectively.

All the four winners will represent the country in their respective categories in the forthcoming World championship to be held in Spain in October later this year and Asian chess championship, venue for which has to be finalised, yet.

The runner-up positions were secured by Saptarshi Roy (GNCA, 7.5 points), G. Rohit (AP, 7.5), M. Priyadarshini (TN, 7) and M. Rajadarshini (TN) in under-14 and 12 boys and girls categories, respectively.

In each category first ten players will be given trophy as well as cash prizes by the Gujarat Governor Sunder Singh Bhandari later this evening.

In under-14 boys event, top seed Hummpy, who is also former under-10 girls World chess champion, was forced to split the point with R. Siddharth of Tamil Nadu, who finished on the fourth position with final tally of 6.5 points, in well fought game after 40 moves. Both players put their will and wit to out class each other, but as the game progress they exchanged their pieces as per the demand of the situation and in a rook ending the draw was the only possible result left.

This result must have cut down the happiness of the champion as she missed the chance to emerge victorious with cent per cent score in the last round by half point only due to this draw.

In under-12 boys category, Deep Sengupta had shattered the dream of K. Nikhilesh (AP), who must be hoping to finish as runner-up by running away with a draw. Deep playing white and Nikhilesh playing black began their game cautiously and maintained equality up to early part of the middle game. In middle game black lost his reins of thinking and weaken his king side with 24....F5? move, which was exploited by experienced Deep with perfect manipulation to wrap-up the game in 37 moves.

While on the second table G. Rohit (AP) and B. R. Kidambi (TN) playing with white and black pieces, respectively, fought with their tooth and nails to knock down each other as the winner of their battle was to achieve second spot, however, it was Rohit on whom lady luck finally smiled.

In under-14 girls, Tuesday's leader S. Nabeela Farheen (TN) maintained her advantage of being first mover with white pieces against Eesha Karawade of Maharashtra. In middle game Eesha misjudge the position and made a mistake which cost her a pawn and under this shock she committed another horrible blunder of losing a piece.

After that the out come of the game was written on the wall. While on second and third table Anuradha Beniwal (Har) and M. Priyadarshini (TN), both playing with black pieces crushed their opponents Amruta Mokal (Mah) and M. Kasturi (TN), respectively, to finish with identical score of seven points each. However, Priyadarshini finished as runner-up, while Anuradha had to be content with third position, owing to better progressive score of the former.

In under-12 girls section, on the top board the game between two Tamilian girls, L. Shobhana (7.5) and M. Rajadarshini (7) ended in a quick draw and the result allowed both the players to finish on first and second position, respectively.

On second table, D. Harika (AP) outwitted K. Nadig of Maharashtra in Reti opening game to tie-up with M. Rajadarshini with seven points each, but better progressive score assured Rajadarshini the second spot while the girl from Andhra Pradesh got the third spot.

Final placings:

Under-12 boys: Deep Sengupta (Bihar) 8, G. Rohit (AP) 7.5, A. A. Kore (Mh) 7, T. Abhay (TN) 7, Kidambi (TN) 6.5, Nikil (Mh) 6.5, Shriram Sarja (Kar) 6.5, Rahul Sangma (Bihar) 6.5.

Under-14 boys: Koneru Humpy (AP) 8.5, Saptarshi Roy (GNCA) 7, R. S. Prasanna (TN) 7, R. Siddharth (TN) 6.5, Satyan Dutta (GNCA) 6.5, Pratik Sengupta (Bihar) 6.5, Vaibhav Saxena (Mh) 6.5, Deepan Chakravorthy (TN) 6, Somak Palit (GNCA) 6, R. Ramprakash (TN) 6.

Under-12 girls: Ishwarya Shobhana (TN) 7.5, M. Rajadharsini (TN) 7, D. Harika (AP) 7, Mary Anni Gomes (GNCA) 6.5, Abhisikha Patnaik (Or) 6.5, Krutika Nadig (Mh) 6, Saheli Nath (WB) 6, N. Raghav (TN) 6, Anoori Shah (Guj) 6, S. Soumya (Mh) 6.

Under-14 girls: Nabeela (TN) 7.5, Priyadarshini (TN) 7, Anurudha Beniwal (Hr) 7, R. Mahima (TN) 6.5, Amruta Mokel (Mh) 6, Essha Karwade (Mh) 6, Baisakhi Das (WB) 6, L. Rajgopalan (TN) 6, A. Deepa (Kar) 6, P. Priya (TN) 5.5.

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