Nithin babu

IM Ajay Santhosh Parvathareddy: Iniyan Pa of Tamil Nadu, the top seed, lived up to his billing, dominating proceedings from start to finish to emerge Champion in the Masters Category of the Global Chess Festival, which concluded at the World Trade Centre.

Already in sight of the title after the penultimate round, the composed 24-year-old National champion settled for a quick and short draw against Ajay Santhosh Parvathareddy to claim one of the biggest chess titles in the country in his debut appearance and the winner’s purse of Rs 8 lakh.

Nithin Babu clinched the Challenger Category, and Madhvendra Pratap Sharma triumphed in the Junior Master Category. Both Nithin and Madhvendra have directly qualified to play the Masters Category in the 10th season scheduled for next year.