The Hindu : Sport / Chess : Gopal crowned State champion

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Sport

Sport - Chess

Gopal crowned State champion

Principal Correspondent

THODUPUZHA: G.N. Gopal of Kochi made his debut at the Kerala State `A' chess championship a memorable one by winning the title here on Tuesday evening.

The former junior National champion and Commonwealth U-18 silver medallist was a clear winner, finishing with eight points from the nine-round event at the Urban Co-operative Bank Auditorium.

"Gopal is our youngest-ever State champion," revealed Chess Association of Kerala secretary P. Venugopal, after the 17-year-old's triumph.

Gopal and top seed K. Ratnakaran went into the final round with equal points though the Kochi youngster had a superior progressive score. But while Gopal defeated former champion V.N. Viswanathan, Ratnakaran messed up his last game against defending champion O.T. Anilkumar.

The victory helped Anilkumar finish runner-up while Ratnakaran and Kochi's Ganesh Bhat took the third and fourth positions. The top four finishers qualified for the National `B' championship, which will be held in Ahmedabad later this year.

Final placings: 1. G.N. Gopal (Ekm, 8), 2. O.T. Anilkumar (Koz, 7.5), 3. K. Ratnakaran (Koz, 7), 4. R. Ganesh Bhat (Ekm, 6.5), 5. C. Sachin (Knr, 6.5), 6. G.S. Sreejith (Tvm, 6.5), 7. P. Sreekumar (Tvm, 6), 8. K.R. Madhusoodhanan (Koz, 6), 9. P.K. Suresh (Tsr, 6), 10. V. Rejith (Klm, 6).

The results (ninth round): O.T. Anilkumar bt K. Ratnakaran; G.N. Gopal bt V.N. Viswanathan; P. Sreekumar drew with Ganesh Bhat; G.S. Sreejith bt P.V. Gireesh; K.R. Madhusoodhanan drew with Abdul Majeed; T.K. Suresh drew with K.A. Unas; U.S. Satheesan lost to C. Sachin; Sumith Balan drew with Joy Lazar; V. Rejith bt Tony Thomas; P.R. Rajeevan lost to Binju Oommen.

Eighth round: G.N. Gopal bt P. Sreekumar; K. Ratnakaran bt K.R. Madhusoodhanan; Joy Lazar lost to O.T. Anilkumar; Ganesh Bhat bt V. Rejith; Abdul Majeed drew with G.S. Sreejith; C. Sachin drew with P.K. Suresh; P.V. Gireesh bt U.C. Mohanan; V.N. Viswanathan bt C.R. Raveendran; K.A. Unas bt Vineeth P. Kaimal; A.K. Jagadeesh drew with K. Nithin.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail