HINGOLI’S Piyush Narsikar won the 3rd Nagpur International Below 1600 FIDE Rating Chess Tournament organised by Kalpana Prakash Welfare Foundation in association with GH Raisoni Sport and Cultural Foundation at GH Raisoni Institute of Information and Technology, Shraddha Park, Wadi Hingna Link Road. The event was recognised by Chess Association Nagpur, Maharashtra Chess Association, AICF and FIDE. In the nine round competition, Narsikar garnered 8.5 points to emerge clear winner. On his way to the title, Narsikar won the last seven games in a row. In the last round, Narsikar was pitted against overnight leader Shubham Kumar of Bihar.

 

While Narsikar, playing with black pieces, equalised early and won a pawn in the middle game. In the endgame, he made a fine endgame manoeuvring of pawn to score victory and thereby the title. AGM M Mathiyazhagan of Puducherry and N Tarun of Delhi scored last round wins to finish with eight points each and settled for second and third spots respectively based on their tie break scores. Top 20 finishers received cash prizes. Prizes were also distributed to Veterans, Best Nagpur player, Best Unrated Player, Best Rated player between Rating 1000 to 1200 and 1201 to 1400.

 

Trophies were given to top 10 finishers in Under-7, U-9, U-11, U-13 and U-15 for boys and girls separately. The prizes were distributed by Surendra Agnihotri, Assistant Commissioner Central GST Nagpur. Dr Mrunalini Borkar, Associate Professor, IGMC and Secretary of Surgeons Association of Nagpur was the guest of honour. Ex-MLC and Vice-President MCA Girish Vyas, who was also the Chairman of Organising Committee of the event, presided over. Bhushan Shriwas, Organising Secretary and Secretary of Kalpana Prakash Welfare Foundation, SS Soman, Member of Observer Committee of MCA and IA Swapnil Bansod, Chief Arbiter were prominently present on the occasion.