Thipsay triumphs!

Top-seeded Grandmaster Pravin Thipsay justified his top billing by winning the Corporation Bank/MRPL-ONGC/Karnataka Bank sponsored Mangalore FIDE Rated All India Open Chess Tournament, which concluded here today at the Radhakrishna Temple Hall, Mangalore.

In the crucial 10th and last round, Thipsay needed a win over his opponent, M.S. Thejkumar of Karnataka, the overnight leader with a score of 8 points. Thejkumar needed only a draw to clinch the title. However, Thipsay, playing white, used his vast experience to prevail over his opponent in

With this win Thipsay pocketed the first prize of Rs.30000/- and the champion’s trophy while Thejkumar had to contended with the 2nd prize of Rs. 20000/-

On the 2nd board, B.S. Sivanandan, after a loss to Thipsay in the penultimate round, took no further risk in his game against IM Atanu Lahiri and both players agreed for a truce. Sivanandan secured 3rd place and a cash prize of Rs.15000/-

The event was contested by 254 players including 1 Grandmaster, 8 International Masters and 2 Fide Masters from across 16-states of the country. Nearly 44 un-rated players their partial rating performance in this tournament, which is nearly 33% of the total unrated players.

The prizes for the local South Kanara was won by Gahan M G while Nihal Manjunath and Prakash V Rao took the 2nd and 3rd place.

The Chief Guest for the prize distribution ceremony was Shri Ananthakrishna, Chairman of the Karnataka Bank Limited. The other dignitaries present were Mohan Alva, President of Alva’s Education Foundation, N.R. Shet, DGM of Corporation Bank, MLA, Shri Krishna Palemar and Ravindra Shetty, President, Working Journalist Union, South Kanara