Karthik, Sakshi clinch national junior titles

In an exciting finish, topseeded grandmaster Karthik Venkataraman (Andhra Pradesh) and third seed Sakshi Chitlange (Maharashtra) won the national junior (under19) chess titles in New Delhi on December 6.

On the final day, Karthik defeated Karnataka’s R. K. Srihari in 41 moves to reach nine points from 11 rounds. In the two games involving other 10thround leaders, Rakesh Kumar Jena, the eventual silver medallist, drew with Sammed Shete in 57 moves and Suyog Wagh did likewise with bronzemedallist Nitish Belurkar in 4■ moves.

Sakshi (nine points), the reigning Asian junior silver medallist, took the title by beating K. Priyanka in 37 moves.

Aakanksha Hagawane (■.5), who started with a halfpoint lead, lost her topboard battle to C. H. Meghna in 64 moves and settled for the second place. Local favourite Vantika Agarwal took the third spot.

The medallists: Open:

1. Karthik Venkataraman, 2. Rakesh Kumar Jena, 3. Nitish Belurkar.

1. Sakshi Chitlange, 2. Aakanksha Hagawane, 3. Vantika Agarwal.

Girls:

RAKESH RAO