Minakshee, Ganguly champs
Sports Reporter
Indian Grand Master Surya Shekhar Ganguly emerged unbeaten champion in the Asian Zonal Chess Championship men's group with a win over Sri Lankan Svothayan in the 11th and final round at the NSC conference room yesterday.With the win, Ganguly, the Calcutta-based player who frequently visits Bangladesh since his school days, finished the championship with highest 9.5 points, one point clear than compatriot Pentala Harikrishna, also a GM. Harikrishna was also in the lead before yesterday's round. But a defeat to Bangladesh GM Ziaur Rahman in the last round kept him glued to 8.5 points. Another Indian GM Avijit Kunte finished third with 7.5 points. Bangladesh IM Reefat-bin-Sattar was fourth with seven points followed by Zia and Indian Bakre who finished on equal six points. India also dominated the women's department with IWM S Minakshee winning the title with maximum eleven points. In the final round, Minakshee drew with compatriot Esha Karabade. Indian WGM Nisha Mohta finished second with ten points while her teammate IWM Swati Ghate got the third spot also with ten points. State Minister for Youth and Sports Fazlur Rahman later gave away the prizes among the winners.
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