SCA chess team records encouraging performance in three tourneys

GANGTOK, 24 Jan: The State’s chess players from Sikkim Chess Association [SCA] have returned home after a hectic tour within and outside the country. The SCA team recorded good performances at three tournaments they covered in their tour.
A big achievement for Sikkim came when Thendup Tamang [FIDE rating of 1760] drew against Ukrainian player, Neverov Velorie [FIDE rating of 2515] in the Grand Master Chess Tournament held in Gurgaon from 01 to 08 January 2014.
SCA general secretary, Mahindra Dhakal said that it was a historic moment for a player from Sikkim to draw against such a high rated player. “It is a very big achievement and encouragement for chess players of the state”, he added. Applauding Thendup’s performance he mentioned that the players and spectators in the tournament highly appreciated his game.
In the same tournament, Rahul Gurung defeated Uzbekistan’s Grand Master K Farida in the last round to win the first prize, while Thendup defeated the current FIDE Master Champion of Nepal.
Likewise, in the Grand Master Chess Tournament held at Parsunath in Delhi from 09 to 12 January 2014, Rahul Gurung stood second in U-20 Boys category and Rahul Gurung also stood second in U-15 Boys. The tournament had 800 players from 20 countries.
An SCA team also participated in the Dhurba Tara International Rating Chess Tournament held at Damak in Nepal from 25 to 30 December. In the tournament, Manisha Gurung won first prize and Priya Chettri stood second in women’s category. Rahul Gurung won first prize in U-13 Boys’ category.
Likewise, Thendup Tamang came in 13th, Rakesh Gurung in 14th position and Rohit Gurung in 23rd position in the same tournament.