Sikkim chess team impresses at Nepal tourney

GANGTOK, 28 Apr: Sikkim chess players have once again delivered an impressive performance at the recently concluded Ram Prasad Gautam Memorial International FIDE Rating Chess Tournament held at Illam in Nepal from 20 to 25 April. A 10-member Sikkim Chess Association team had participated in this tournament.
Sikkim’s chess players have not only won prizes but also improved their FIDE Rating in the tournament. In the toughest Open category of the tournament, Rakesh Gurung stood on the 12th position among 150 participants. With his performance in the tournament, Rakesh also improved his FIDE Rating from 1923 to 1942.
Rohit Gurung won a gold medal in the U-16 category and improved his FIDE Rating from 1738 to 1752. In women’s category, Sushmita Lama won the silver medal and improved her FIDE rating from 1639 to 1647. 9-year-old Priya Chettri has also a won gold medal in the U-12 category. After defeating some FIDE rated players in this tournament, this young girl will soon be a FIDE rated player as well. It is informed that her rating will come out in the list that will come out in May.
In ELO Rating 1600-1800 category, 12-year-old Rahul Gurung won a gold medal. Saurav Subba has also improved his FIDE rating from 1513 to 1521.
Bhoj Bahadur Chettri and Manisha Gurung will also feature in the FIDE rating list in May.
The youngest player in the tournament, 8-year-old Tsetiz Rai attracted the attention of the spectators and media with his performance at such a young age. Tsetiz has also achieved FIDE rating in this tournament and his rating will be out in the May list. He will be the youngest FIDE rated player of Sikkim.
SCA general secretary, Mahendra Dhakal, who served the tournament as an International Arbiter, has mentioned that all members of the team performed well and won people’s hearts at the tournament with their performances. The improvement in FIDE rating of the state’s players as well as those who soon be FIDE rated has been extremely encouraging, he added.