TURA: The 4th Garo Hills Chess Championship 2018 which was organized by the Garo Hills Chess Association (GHCA) to promote and encourage young and talented players in the region concluded on Saturday at Tura Government College Hall, Hawakhana. The programme was sponsored by the Planning Department, West Garo Hills Tura and District Sports Office, Tura.
In the championship match that was played for three days on Swiss league system of total 9 rounds, Silkam A Sangma of Duragre, Tura, emerged the winner followed by Silseng N Marak and Barbith M Sangma who won the 2nd and 3rd prizes.
It may be mentioned that Silkam A Sangma has won the Garo Hills Chess Championship title for three consecutive years and has also added another feather to his cap by achieving the National Instructor (NI) title, the first among the tribals of Meghalaya. The Title certificate and a Special Badge of All India Chess Federation (AICF) were presented to him by AICF’s Joint Secretary, T H Biju Singh. The 4th to 10thposition holders were Krusen D Shira, Wilseng G Marak, Balsrang N Marak, Lakman B Marak, Predinath R Sangma, Salcham S Marak and Challangga D Sangma.
Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), Tura Chief Executive Member, Dipul R Marak while gracing the occasion as Chief Guest on the first day of the function, lauded the association for organising such kind of events for the players of the region and assured the participants to help them in near future in his personal capacity.
The total number of participants was about 70. There were five categories in the Championship- the under 13, under 15, Veteran, female and open category.
The winners of under 13 boys were, Letmister M Sangma (1st) and Arand Rikrim Sangma (2nd) while under the under -15 boys category, the winners were Mangrak K Sangma (1st) and Jehiel R Marak (2nd). The winners among the Veterans are Franchis A Sangma (1st), Minickson T Sangma (2nd) and Harlowe Sangma (3rd). Best female, youngest player and differently abled prizes were bagged by Salchi A Sangma, Chongkimbea M Sangma and Lepstan R Marak respectively.
The Additional Deputy Commissioner and Project Director, DRDA, West Garo Hills, Tura A M Sangma was the Chief Guest for the closing ceremony and also distributed the Trophies, Certificate and Cash prizes to the winners of the Championship.