The Hindu : Sport / Chess : Airlines ends Petroleum's long reign

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004

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Sport - Chess

Airlines ends Petroleum's long reign

By Rakesh Rao

PUNE, JUNE 8. Amidst mounting pressure and rising tension, Indian Airlines grabbed the title as Petroleum ran out of fuel on the homestretch of the IOC-KPIT Cummins National team chess championship here on Tuesday.

The thrilling finale saw Airlines, which went into the seventh and final round a point ahead of Petroleum, settle for a 2-2 result against LIC after it became clear that Tamil Nadu `A' was not going to allow Petroleum any liberties. Eventually, Petroleum's 2.5-1.5 verdict was not enough to help extend its seven-year winning sequence.

Airlines' maiden triumph, worth Rs. 30,250, came after it aggregated 21 points to Petroleum's 20.5. Though Airlines owed a lot to the fourth-placed Tamil Nadu `A', it was indeed a well-deserved title. Airlines remained the only team to humble Petroleum and stayed undefeated. Petroleum, which settled for Rs. 18,700, never led after the end of the opening round and consistently fell short of playing to its strength and reputation.

The women's section, too, saw a close finish with local Buddhibal Kreeda Trust retaining the title, just half-a-point ahead of last year's runner-up Tamil Nadu. In the final round, Tamil Nadu needed at least a 3-1 victory over LIC to regain the title but it was never going to be easy. Eventually, Tamil Nadu won 2.5-1.5. For LIC, Swati Ghate won on the second board and Nisha Mohota settled for a draw with Y. Prathiba on the first. Tamil Nadu's M. R. Sangeetha and H. Soumya won against Bindu Saritha and Metali but it was not good enough to dislodge BKT from the top.

BKT collected Rs. 12,100 while Tamil Nadu got Rs. 6,000. LIC settled for Rs. 3,900.

The results:

Men (seventh round): LIC (17.5) drew with Indian Airlines (21) 2-2; Petroleum (20.5) bt Tamil Nadu `A' (18) 2.5-1.5; Banks Sports Board (19) bt Central Revenue (16) 3.5-0.5; Buddhibal Kreeda Trust (Jr.) (15.5) lost to Maharashtra (17.5) 0.5-3.5; Western Railway (15.5) drew with Tamil Nadu `B' (15.5) 2-2; South Central Railway (17) bt D'souza's Academy (Jr.) (13.5) 3.5-0.5; Sersa Academy (16) bt D'souza's Academy (Sr.) (14) 3-1; Buddhibal Kreeda Trust (Sub-jr.) (14.5) bt Southern Maharashtra (14) 2.5-1.5; Young Masters Academy (15) bt Ghatkopar Academy (13.5) 2.5-1.5; MP (14.5) bt Services (12.5) 3-1; Nasik (14) bt Gujarat (12.5) 2.5-1.5; Chandigarh (12.5) bt Vidarbha (12) 2.5-1.5; Creative Young Indians (12) drew with BSNL (12) 2-2; Anand Buddhibal Mandal (11) lost to Bihar (12) 1.5-2.5; J&K (11) drew with Alliance Academy (10.5) 2-2; Blind Association (12) bt Bhandara (6.5) 3.5-0.5; Checkmate Club (11) bt Aurangabad (8.5) 3-1.

Standings (top 12): 1. Indian Airlines (21), 2. Petroleum (20.5), 3. Banks Sports Board (19), 4. Tamil Nadu `A' (18), 5-6 LIC and Maharashtra (17.5), 7. South Central Railway (17), 8-9 Central Revenue and Sersa Academy (16), 10-12 Western Railway, Buddhibal Kreeda Trust (Jr.) and Tamil Nadu `B' (15.5).

Board prizes: First (Rs. 12,100): Vikramaditya Kamble (Maharashtra) 6/6; Second (Rs. 9,400): Abhijit Kunte (Petroleum) 4.5/5; Third (Rs. 6,000): S. Satyapragyan (IA) 6/7; Fourth (Rs. 4,900): Tejas Kondedeshmukh (BKT) 5/5; Reserve (Rs. 3,900): Sharad Tilak (BSB) 3.5/4.

Women (fifth round): LIC (14) lost to Tamil Nadu (16) 1.5-2.5; J&K (0) lost to Sersa Academy (8.5) 0-4; BKT (Maharashtra) (16.5) bt Chandigarh (3) 4-0.

Standings: 1. Buddhibal Kreeda Trust (Maharashtra) (16.5 points); 2. Tamil Nadu (16); 3. LIC (14); 4. Sersa Academy (8.5), 5. Chandigarh (3), 6. J&K (0).

Board prizes: First (Rs. 5,000): Y. Prathiba (TN) 4/5; Second (Rs. 3,000): Swati Ghate (LIC) 5/5; Third (Rs. 1,800): Amruta Mokal (BKT) 4.5/5; Fourth (Rs. 1,200): C. V. Rajalakshmi (TN) 3/4; Reserve (Rs. 1,000): Priya Upase (BKT) 3/3.

Best junior team (Rs. 6,000): Buddhibal Kreeda Trust (15.5).

Best sub-junior team (Rs. 6,000): Young Masters Academy (15).

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