International Master Gukesh D and Savitha Shri B have won gold medals in the U-12 Open and girls category, respectively, at the World Cadets Chess Championship in Spain.
The World Cadets Chess Championship took place at Galicia and was played between age groups U-8, U-10 and U-12, in Girls and Open categories.
A record number – 851 participants from 86 federations took part in the championship. Notably, there were 309 participants in the girls’ section and 542 players in the Open category.
For the Indian Chess Master Gukesh, it was a comfortable and an easy win. He clinched the title by a major margin of 1.5 points. Gukesh was playing white against France’s Razafindratsima Timothe. The Indian champion fiercely attacked the K-side and just plunged into a check-mate against his opponent in just 54 moves.
Russia’s Murzin Volodor and Chasin Nico of USA bagged the third and fourth positions in the tournament.
In the U-12 Girls category, Savitha Shri B from Tamil Nadu clinched the Gold effortlessly with 8 wins and 2 draws.
Savitha was facing the Russian Zavuvaeve Emilia in the finale and drew her final round in 38 moves. Emilia stood third in the competition. The second position was bagged by Omonova Umida of Uzbekistan.
In other matches, Indian champions Tanisha BS and Mahi Amit Doshi finished third games with 7-5 and 7 points.
India, with two Gold medals, stood second in the table.
Great news for India! A day after @vishy64theking wins Tata Steel Chess India 2018 we have two Indian youngsters D. Gukesh and Savitha Shri winning the gold in under-12 open and under-12 girls section at the World Cadets 2018! pic.twitter.com/eRwQOu8PPY
— ChessBase India (@ChessbaseIndia) November 15, 2018
China, with two gold and a bronze, secured the 1st position. With 1 Gold, 1 Silver and two Bronze medals, USA finished with the 3rd place.
In the U-8 Open category, Indian players Lakshyesh MG scored 7.5 points while Kiaan Agrawal and Mrinmoy Rajkhowa scored 6 points each. Ishaan S K and Shashindra Kumar finished with 5.5 and 5 points respectively.
In the U-8 Girls category, Indian players Arshiya Das and Shreya G H finished with 7 points each, Shriyana Mallya and Swarali H finished with 6 points each while Harini Sri A and Tanishka J finished with 5.5 and 4.5 points respectively.
Candidate Master (CM) and Fide Instructor (FI) of Odisha’s KIIT University, Aparajita Gochhikar was the coach of the 23-member Indian Team for the Championship.
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