Kovai Vidyashram Tamilnadu State Level Open & Children Chess Tournament – 2019 organized by Kovai Vidyashram School was held on 16th & 17th November, 2019 at Kovai Vidyashram School, Manickampalayam, Karuvalur Road, Kovilapalayam, Coimbatore – 641107. The event was inaugurated by Mr. R. Palanisamy, Chairman, Kovai Vidyashram School, Kovilapalayam, Coimbatore by making the first move on the top board of OPEN category. Other dignitaries present were Dr. S.P. Thenmozhi, MBA, Ph.D., Academic Director, Vigneshwaran N., top seed of the Open category, arbiters team. Mr. K. Dhanasekar, Secretary, Coimbatore District Chess Association and staff members of Kovai Vidyashram School.
The event attracted total of 286 players from different districts of Tamil Nadu. The tournament was conducted as 8 rounds for Under 9 and Under 12 categories. For Under 15 category, 6 rounds were conducted and for Open category, 7 rounds was conducted.
In Open category, Gowtham K K was the winner and clinched cash prize of
Rs. 5000/-. He secured 6 points out of 7 rounds. Second and third prize winners are Nandha Kumar K and Eshwanth Dev Kumar J were awarded Rs. 4000/- and Rs. 3000/- respectively. Both scored 5½ points and the placing was decided by tie break.
In Under 15 category, Sriram Sundar V of Sivagangai was the title winner scoring 5 points out of 6 rounds. He was tied with Midhun Kumar M A of Coimbatore with equal points but direct encounter tiebreak favoured the former and Dhanvanth S of Coimbatore was placed third.
Sarveshwaran V of Coimbatore emerged as the Champion remaining unbeaten scoring 8 straight victories in Under 12 category. The second prize was secured by Sherlina S scoring 7 points and Sugan Rithik K S of Tirupur was placed third scoring 6½ points.
Mithra Kumaran J K of Coimbatore was the title winner in Under 9 category scoring 7½ points from 8 rounds. Vishweshwaran V and Vetriselvan A of Coimbatore were tied up with 7 points for second place but better tie break score favoured the former to secure the second place.
Fifteen prizes (trophies) were awarded in Under 9, Under 12 and Under 15 categories. Fifteen cash prizes worth of Rs. 22,000/- were awarded for OPEN category.
The Chief Guest of the Prize Distribution function was Dr. D. Dhanapal, Correspondent, Kovai Vidyashram School, Coimbatore. The prizes were distributed by Mr. R. Palanisamy, Chairman, Dr. D. Dhanapal, Correspondent and Dr. S.P. Thenmozhi, MBA, PhD., Academic Director, Mr. K. Dhanasekar, Secretary, Coimbatore District Chess Association and Dr. Sathiesh GG, Chief Arbiter were also present.