Date:14/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/14/stories/2008101455091800.htm

Sport - Chess

SRM bags team title

Arvind Aaron

Chennai: SRM University won the Ramco State team chess championship after a thrilling final round at the Nehru Stadium on Monday — its first triumph in the competition.

The young SRM team, represented by Arun Karthik, P. Maheswaran, R. Premnath, Arvind Subramaniam and S. Harini scored a big 3.5-0.5 win over Jawahar Vidyalaya in the final round to reach 17.5 points.

Overnight leaders and top seed, Southern Railways was leading 2-1 against Bloom and needed a win from Mari Arul’s board to win the title on tie-break. However, after Mari could manage only a draw against Palaniappan, it became clear that SRM would be champion. Indian Bank swept Chennai 4-0 to finish second with 17 points. Two SRM players, P, Maheswaran and R.Premnath, also won board prizes besides remaining undefeated.

SRM should mount a serious title challenge to Madras University in the all-India inter-university chess meet starting in Karnataka on October 17.

Important final round results: Jawahar Vidyalaya lost to SRM 0.5-3.5, Indian Bank bt Chennai 4-0, Southern Railway bt Bloom Chess Academy 2.5-1.5. Final placings: 1. SRM 17.5, 2. Indian Bank 17, 3. Southern Railway 17, 4. Kanyakumari-A 15, 5. Bloom Chess Academy 14, 6. Jawahar Vidyalaya 14, 7. Kanchi District 14, 8. Dragon Chess Academy 13.5, 9. Chennai 12.5, 10. Kanyakumari-B 12.5 points. Board prizes: 1. G.B. Prakash (IB), 2. P. Maheswaran (SRM), 3. R. Premnath (SRM), 4. Saimeera Ravi (IB), 5. V. Hariharan (IB).