Dhopade clinches National Challenger Chess title in style

NAGPUR: Dark horse of the tournament Swapnil Dhopade emerged as surprising winner in the National Challenger Chess Championship which concluded at the Naivedyam Hall here on Thursday.
Overcoming around seven challengers, the Amravati-based Dhopade reigned supreme with a fantastic effort in the last few rounds. In the final round, International Master Dhopade outwitted IM MS Tejkumar.
Dhopade, who represents Railways, finished with maximum 10 points and walked away with a cash prize of Rs 1.50 lakh. He was followed by FM K Praneeth Surya, while Karthikeyan finished third.
FIDE vice-president D V Sundar was the chief guest of prize distribution function. AICF CEO Bharat Singh Chauhan , MCA chairman Ravindra Dongre, GM Abhijit Kunte, Goel Ganga group vice-president Khandelwal, chief arbiter Paul Arokia Raj S –, NDCA president V K Trivedi, MCA vice-president Manoj Itkelwar, organising secretary Dilip Kamdar and MCA secretary Dilip Pagay was also present on the occasion.
NDCA secretary KK Barat and his team members Swapnil Bansod,Umesh Panbude, Pravin Pantawane, R. N. Shriwas, S. N. Parkhi, Prakash Chahande, Anurag Singh, Dipak Patrikar, Nitin Kadbe, Govind Bhake, Sigy Verghese and Mrs. Sheetal Panbude worked hard for the grand success of the tournament.
RESULTS (Round 13)
M Shyam Sundar (9.5) drew with Murali Karthikeyan (9.5), Swapnil Dhopade (10) bt MS Thejkumar (9), Deep Sengupta (9) drew with P Shyamnikhil (9.5), K Rathnakaran (9.5) bt MR Lalith Babu (8.5), S Nitin (8.5) lost to Arghyadip Das (9.5), MR Venkatesh (9.5) bt Utkal Ranjan Sahoo (8.5), Satyapragyan Swayangsu (8.5) lost to Neelotpal Das (9.5), K Praneeth Surya (9.5) bt Sayantan Das (8.5), RR Laxman (8.5) drew with Harsha Bharathakoti (9), Somak Palit (8) lost to Gusain Himal (9), Sameer Kathmale (8) lost to Konguvel Ponnuswamy (9), Shailesh Dravid (9) bt Rahul Sangma (8), Deepan Chakkravarthy (8) drew with Shashikant Kutwal (8.5).
Final standings: 1. Swapnil Dhopade (10), 2. K Praneeth Surya (9.5), 3. Murali Karthikeyan (9.5), 4. Neelotpal Das (9.5), 5. MR Venkatesh (9.5), 6. M Shyam Sundar (9.5), 7. K Rathnakaran (9.5), 8. P Karthikeyan (9.5), 9. Abhijit Kunte (9.5), 10. Shyaamnikhil (9.5).