H Somokanta clinches 6th Kh Ramnarayan Shastri Memorial State Level Chess tourney title

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jun 30 : Haobam Somokanta topped to win the title of the 6th edition of  Kh Ramnarayan Shastri Memorial State Level Chess Tournament organised by Juvenile Club, Sagolband Tera Sapam Leirak under the aegis of the Manipur Chess Association.
Haobam Somokanta and Yambem Dhanabir finished with same 7 points after 8 rounds of the tournament organised in the Swiss System but Somokanta got the better on Buchholz scoring (42-40.5) to seal the top honour of the tournament featuring 65 rated and unrated players.
The closing ceremony of the tournament sponsored by  Khuraijam Ramnarayan Shastri Memorial Trust was attended by Thiyam Loken, president of Juvenile Club; Khuraijam Vanikanta, president of the memorial trust; Thongam Nabachandra, chief arbiter Manipur Chess Association as presidium members among others.
Winner Somokanta and runner up Dhanabir were feted with cash prize of Rs 25,000 and Rs 18,000 respectively besides trophies and certificates as H Jacky (6 pts, 42.5 BH ), Kh Sanjoy (6 pts, 41.5 BH) and L Lalgopal (6 pts, 41.5 BH) who finished third, fourth and fifth were feted with cash prize of Rs 13,000; Rs 9,000 and Rs 7,000 respectively along with trophies and certificates.
Oinam Ningthem and Thingbaijam Sadananda meanwhile finished 6th and 7th to settle for the cash prize of Rs 5,000 and Rs 3,000 as Sorokhaibam Herojit, Elangbam Sachikanta and Naorem Yohenba who finished 8th, 9th and 10th were encouraged with cash prize of Rs 2,000 each.
Longjam Kenedy, RK Sudhirsana and Oinam Khelemba who secured 11th, 12th and 13th places were also feted with cash prize of Rs 1,000 each.
Besides the position holders, Nadiya and RK Chitralekha who were first and second among women players were also encouraged with cash prizes of Rs 2,000 and Rs 1,500.
Top three players in the U-11 years category- S Lemba, E Mangal and Y Yaingamba and top players in the U-14 years category- 1.Th Dayananda, 2. M William, 3. M Einstein and E Prichard (joint winners) were also feted with Rs 2,000 (1st), Rs 1,500 (2nd) and Rs 1,000 (3rd) respectively along with trophies and certificates.
In the meantime, Phuritsabam Rajen, Soibam Motitlal and Maibam Dorendro who were adjudged top three players among the above 60 years age group were also feted with cash prizes of Rs 3,000; Rs 2000 and Rs 1,000 respectively.