Madras varsity emerge chess champions

Undefeated University of Madras, Chennai, became the new champions of South Zone Inter-University Men’s Chess Tournament 2018-19.

In the concluding seventh round, they beat Mangalore University to finish with 14 points.

The championship was held at Dr TMA Pai Hall here on Friday. Mangalore University finished ninth with 10 points.

Last year’s champions Anna University finished second with 11 points. Top-seeded Osmania University team also finished with 11 points. In the tie-breaker between the two, Anna won the second spot and Osmania was third.

NITK, Suratkal clinched the fourth spot bagging 11 points. But, in the overall points, NITK had half a point more than SRM University (which also scored 11 points). In the total team points, NITK had 19 and SRM had 18.5.

University of Madras, Anna University, Osmania and NITK qualify from South Zone to play the All-India Inter-University Chess tournament to be held in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, later this month.

In the last round today, Anna University (11) drew with SRM University (11), VIT- Vellore Institute of University (9) lost to Osmania University (11), National Institute Of Technology Karnataka (11) beat Andhra University (9). Hosts MAHE with 7 points finished 26th.

Dr Poornima Baliga, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Dr Narayana Sabahith, Registrar, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Dr Shobha MA, Joint Secretary, Sports Council, MAHE, Mr Shridhar H, Director of Physical Education were present at the prize distribution.