By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: It was an exhilarating Saturday for seven-year-old McEnbok Khyllep as he lifted the State ‘Under-10’ chess trophy by beating Shovik Ghosh of St. Peter’s HS School.
It was a treat to watch the Class II student of St. Anthony’s HS School along with 41 other students from various schools in the State actively participating with much enthusiasm in the “36th State ‘B’, ‘A’ and Annual School Chess Championship 2012” organised by the Meghalaya Chess Association (MCA) at the Government Girls HS School in Shillong from April 2 to May 5, 2012.
The completion was played in the Swiss League system of 5 rounds for ‘Under 14’ and ‘Under 17’ (Boys and Girls) categories and 3 rounds for the ‘Under 10’ category. Students from remote places in the State including Baghmara and Shangpung came to take part and show their skills in the game which was welcomed by the MCA.
In the State ‘B’ category, altogether 30 participants including a girl and a visually impaired person took part. It was conducted in the Swiss League system of 7 rounds. Playing great chess, nine of the participants made it to the State ‘A’ category which is a welcome reflection of the improvement in the standard of playing asserted MCA president KM Warjri. The top nine players who increased their ratings include Bobby Lyngdoh, Silseng N Marak, Silkam A Sangma, Gautam Chakroborty, Ganesh Rai, Amit Saraf, LD Choudhury, Yemu Poudel and Gary Brandon Lyndem.
The State ‘A’ category witnessed 9 players taking part including the three top players of the State and it was played in the Round Robin League of 11 rounds with the final results reading as Rijied Katrai, Yemu Poudel, Gary Brandon Lyndem, Silkam A Sangma, LD Choudhury, Bobby Lyngdoh, Gautam Chakroborty, HD Sutnga, Silseng N Marak, Amit Saraf, N Wanniang and Ganesh Rai.
“The top four players of the State ‘A’ category will represent the State in the “50th National Chess Challenger 2012 to be held at Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh form May 18 to 28, 2012,” informed MCA secretary Th. B Singh who was also the ‘Arbiter’ of the championship.
The closing ceremony was attended as the chief guest by Shillong Press Club president and Resident Editor of Eastern Chronicle, David Laitphlang.