ILAM, Sept 29: Russia´s Grand Master Alexander Famoni on Saturday clinched the title of Ram Prasad Gautam Memorial International Chess Tournament held in Ilam.
Famoni finished with eight points in the 10-round tournament, remaining unbeaten to win the title with highest cash prize in Nepal´s chess.
Despite five players having equal eight points, Famoni won on the basis of buchholz tie break system. Famoni bagged a purse of Rs 60,000.
Dilip Das of India, Bangladeshi FM Imanuel Islam, Australia´s International Master Alexander Bol and Nepal´s FM Sujendra Prasad secured second to fifth positions respectively. They received cash prize of Rs 40,000, Rs 25,000, Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively.
Ninth and tenth round matches were held on the last day of the tournament. In the ninth round, Famoni shared point with Bol and edged past Nepal´s Rajan Puri in the last round, ending Puri´s unbeaten run in the last round.
India´s Das edged past his compatriot Ashutosh Kumar and Saurav Anand in the ninth and the tenth rounds respectively. Third position holder Islam was held to a draw by Anil Rajbahak in the first board of the day and defeated by Madan Krishna Kayastha in another board.
Altogether 40 players, including top 20 in open category, were awarded with cash prizes. The tournament saw participation of 139 players from seven different countries.
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