Gowtham wins FIDE chess tournament

Chennai, July 29 (UNI) Twelfth seeded T Gowtham, sprang a surprise by clinching the first Saranya Open FIDE Rated Chess Tournament securing 8.5 points.

In the tenth and last round, he outplayed overnight leader and second seed M Shyam Sundar in 33 moves. The crushing defeat relegated Sundar (7.5) to a creditable third position.

Mr Vinoth Kumar playing cautious chess throughout the tournament did not miss the last round opportunity when he punished FIDE Master V Hariharan for a weak Rb2 move in the Closed Sicilian lasting 37 moves.

Mr Vinod, with eight points, stood second behind the leader.

The top seed and one IM norm holder C Praveen Kumar (7 points) had to satisfy himself when he came behind to defeat V A V Rajesh in the final encounter.

Mr Gowtham won the title and received a cash prize of Rs 10,000.

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