Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 5: Rajat Bhardwaj and Sumit Grover were leading in the senior category, while as Shivinder Chib and Akashdeep Singh were on top positions in the junior category of the J&K State Chess Championship, which started today.
The tournament was inaugurated by Atul Kumar Gupta, President, All J&K Chess Association and Joint Secretary, All India Chess Federation in presence of Ashiq Ahmad, general secretary All J&K Chess Association, Baldev Raj, vice president and Taranvir Singh Gujral, Coordinator.
In Senior category, Sumit Grover beat Aryan, match between Ajit Singh and Ravi Sharma ended in draw, Rajat Bhardwaj smashed Arvindu, Maxim Singh defeated Javid Ahmed, Pranav Sharma routed Mohammad Iqbal, the match between Mohammad Rafiq and Soham Kamotra ended in draw, Arushi Kotwal beat NK Katoch, Rafiq Nazar crushed Jibran Malik, Varsha Rani trounced Aadil, Arvind Sharma routed Shokat Ahmed, Imtiaz Lone beat Tanzeel Rafiq, Muzamil Nabi defeated Abid Ahmed, Firdous Ahmed crushed Mushtaq Ahmed Malik, Junaid Ahmed smashed Rouf Thoker and Roufmir beat Junaid-ul-Islam.
In Junior category, Shivinder Chib beat Jaiveer Singh, Aakashdeep Singh defeated Abhishek Kharyal, Imtiaz Ahmed smashed Sanjukta, the match between Yaksh Chopra and Soham Gupta ended in draw, Navdeep Singh beat Kanav Gupta, Nihida Gul crushed Ambika Fayaz, Rahilla Gul smashed Arvind John Arif, Ritish Pathania routed Bismah Afshan, the match between Sanyam Gupta and Deewang Gupta ended in draw, Aryavir Koul got walkover against Puneet Choudhary, Amariah Fayaz beat Faizan Shabir and Areeba Shabir thrashed Lala Fayaz.
Ankush Kumar is the organizing secretary of this event, whileas Bindu Pathania is the chief arbiter.
The players, who will excel in this Championship, will represent J&K in the Nationals.