Mangaluru: KIOCL Ltd. (formerly Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Ltd.) organised an enthusiastic two-day All India Open FIDE Rating Rapid Chess Tournament — First Kudremukh Trophy in Mangaluru.

Conducted at the Nehru Bhavan at its Township in Kavoor, the tournament received a roaring participation from 333 contestants. While KIOCL Chairman and Managing Director Subba Rao inaugurated the tournament on Saturday, the valedictory function was held on Sunday. In all, the tournament had 143 trophies with a cash prize worth Rs. 2 lakh, said a release.

The tournament was conducted under the guidance of the International Arbiter B.H. Vasanth along with three National Arbiters. While the youngest player was four-and-a-half-years old, the eldest was 65.

Subba Rao said, “Realising the positive impact of chess on the commitment, flexibility, brainstorming of the aspirants, we are one of the Central PSUs that have conducted district-level tournaments to the State level; now it is the national-level tournament.”

Senior officials from KIOCL, including office-bearers of the tournament committee, ensured the smooth conduct of the two-day event.

M.G. Gahan from Dakshina Kannada stood first with eight points at the final ranking after nine rounds followed by A.I. Muthaiah from Tamil Nadu (8), K. Senthil Maran from Tamil Nadu, V. Raghav Srinivathsav from Telangana (7.5), A. Augustin from Karnataka, S.S. Manigandan from Tamil Nadu, Kulkarni Chinmay from Maharashtra and Sharan Rao from Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka (all 7.5 points), and Devi Das Suresh Pai from Karnataka with 7 points.