The 61st National Chess Championship at RPS International School on Monday witnessed a compelling display of skill, with women players making their mark despite facing formidable opponents.
Shubhi Gupta and Kiran Manisha Mohanty, two of the top three players in the third round, went head-to-head against the top seed, Surya Shekhar Ganguly, and the defending champion, S.P. Sethuraman, respectively. Both women put up a strong fight, but ultimately succumbed to the experience of their opponents.
However, the tournament saw a promising display of young talent in the form of 17-year-old Siddhant Gawai. Gawai, hailing from Nagpur, managed to secure a draw against the second seed, Abhijeet Gupta, after a grueling 67 moves. The draw, a testament to Gawai’s strategic prowess, was a significant personal milestone for the young chess player.
“This is my best result in chess,” Gawai stated, brimming with enthusiasm. Abhijeet Gupta, playing the English Opening, attempted perpetual checks, but Gawai’s strategic defense held strong.
The competition also saw a series of draws among the Grandmasters. N.R. Vignesh and N.R. Visakh, brothers competing in the tournament, were held by Arshpreet Singh and Sai Santosh Gyana, respectively. Pratyaksh Goel and Soumick Bandopadhyay also achieved peace with their Grandmaster opponents, J. Deepan Chakravarthy and Sriram Jha.
With eight rounds still to go, the tournament is shaping up to be a thrilling affair. Currently, 24 players are tied for the lead with three points each, indicating a tight and unpredictable competition.
