Date:23/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/23/stories/2008112355151300.htm

Sport - Chess

Sai Krishna draws last game, takes title

Arvind Aaron

VELLORE: G.V. Sai Krishna of Vijayawada drew his final round game to win the VIT National under-13 chess championship that concluded at the VIT University, here on Saturday.

Needing a draw for the title, Krishna achieved it in 37 moves with white after repeating the position against Shiven Khosla of Maharashtra. Krishna finished with 9.5 points for the title and pocketed Rs. 10,000 cash prize.

It was his second National title. He won the National under-9 in Chennai in 2005.

P.V. Nandhidhaa of Tamil Nadu handed teammate and J. Saranya her first defeat in a marathon 68 moves to finish second in the girls’ section. It also ensured that all the girls lost atleast one game.

Final placings (tie-break order): Boys: 1. G.V. Sai Krishna (AP) 9.5/11; 2-3. U.R. Sahoo (Ori), Nihal Manjunath (Kar) 9; 4-9. Shiven Khosla (Mah), Sahaj Grover (Del), Karma Pandya (Guj), D. Yashas (Kar), S.S. Manigandan, Antonio Viani D’cunha (Kar) 8.5; 10. Fenil Shah (Guj) 8.

Girls: 1. J. Saranya (TN) 9.5/11; 2. P.V. Nandhidhaa (TN) 9; 3-4. Anjana Krishna (Ker), Priyanka Kumari (Jha) 8.5; 5-8. Vanessa D’souza (Kar), Srija Seshadri (TN), G. Lasya (AP), G.K. Monnisha (TN) 8; 9-10. V. Janu (TN), Soumya Shrivastava (Mah) 7.5.

Important results:

Round 11: Boys: Krishna drew with Khosla; Fenil lost to Sahoo; Vishnu Sharon lost to Manjunath; Deepthamsh Reddy lost to Sahaj.

Girls: Nandhidhaa bt Saranya; Anjana drew with Vanessa; Priyanka Kumari bt Bala Kannamma; Srija bt C. Sahajasri.