Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 19: The J&K Chess Championship concluded today with seasoned player Sumit Grover emerging victorious after a tie-breaker decider at the end of three days of intense competition. The event was organized by the All J&K Chess Association under the sponsorship of the J&K Sports Council.
Grover accumulated 6.5 points during the course of the tournament, a tally equalled by the young challenger Pazhany Kaushal Kohli. Their head-to-head encounter in the final round ended in a draw, taking the championship into tie-break rules, where Grover’s superior calculations gave him the title.
For his top-place finish, Grover was presented with a cash prize of Rs 9,000. Runner-up Pazhany Kohli was awarded Rs 6,500 in recognition of his performance.
The third position went to Aarav Gupta, another young participant who showcased remarkable skill to earn a cash prize of Rs 5,500. Ashutosh Jamwal secured the fourth place, while veteran SP Sharma and Samyak Jain occupied the fifth and sixth positions, respectively.
As per the selection format, the top four players-Grover, Pazhany Kohli, Gupta, and Jamwal-will represent J&K in the upcoming National Chess Championship scheduled in Andhra Pradesh next month.
The matches were conducted under the supervision of Chief Arbiter Bindu Pathania, who was supported by arbiters Ritish and Stuti Gupta. Divisional Sports Officer of J&K Sports Council, Sat Pal Singh, along with senior officials, visited the venue earlier to observe the proceedings and interact with the participants.
A number of chess enthusiasts and prominent figures, including Ashiq Ahmed, Comrade Parvez, and Khalid Ameen, also witnessed the competition.
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