CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP
Dibrugarh, July 23: Nazira’s Prajit Phukon is on the verge of clinching the title of the All-Assam Prize-money (Open) Chess Championship under way at Sapekhati HS School.
Prajit, leading the tally with seven points after the eighth round today, needs only a draw tomorrow to ensure victory. Applying Greco Roman defence variation, Prajit defeated Krishnashish Gogoi of Kamrup (rural), who had adopted Sicilian defence variation at the end of 62 moves. Madhab Sarma of Mangaldoi is trailing behind Prajit with 6.5 points. Madhab drew with top seed Rajib Dhar of Guwahati, who had adopted King’s India defence at the end of 48 moves.
Ciraranjan Bhuyan (Guwahati), Tralokya Nanda (Titabor), Rajib Dhar and Abdus Sidique (Jorhat) have six points each.
“Prajit will be playing Ciraranjan tomorrow and a draw will ensure him the title with 7.5 points,” Manik Dutta, the tournament director, said.
A stiff fight is on for the title in the under-15 category where both Dipu Pradhan (Nazira) and Bikrant Pratim Saikia (Dibrugarh) are jointly leading with 6.5 points each after the eighth round.
Bikrant defeated Satyajit Changmai of Sapekhati after 62 moves. Dipu, however, lost against Mrinmoy Chetry (Tinsukia) at the end of 73 moves.
Mrinmoy, along with Rituraj Borgohain (Duliajan), Saumyadeep Hazarika (Duliajan) and Kudrat Singh Dahotia (Tinsukia) are in second spot with 6 points each. Satyajit, Simran Ahmed (Guwahati) and Udit Narayan Bora (Dibrugarh) have 5.5 points each.
In the under-9 category, Dharitry Shilpi Baruah (Tinsukia) won the title with 8 points.
Chief arbiter M. Arun Singh today declared Dharitry the champion in accordance with the tournament rules.
Dharitry today came up with an unexpected victory over Aryan Sonowal (Duliajan) after 64 moves.
Aryan is in the second spot with 7 points, followed by Mrinal Gogoi (Titabor) and Anik Lahon (Titabor) with 5 each. Ripunjoy Changmai (Sapekhati) has 4 points while Mayukh Dutta (Mangaldoi) and Gaurabh Jyoti Buragohain (Sapekhati) have 3.5 points each.
