Women FIDE Master Saranya J wins ONGC 50th TN State Women Chess Championship 2022
Inauguration by the chief guest
ONGC 50th Tamil Nadu State Women Chess Championship 2022 was inaugurated by Tiruvarur MLA Shri. Poondi K Kalaivanan on 2nd January 2022 at Srimathi Rasammal Thirumana Arangam, Tiruvarur in the presence of Shri. N.Shanthakumar, President, Tiruvarur District Chess Association, Shri. R.K.Balagunashekaran, Secretary, Tiruvarur district chess association & Joint secretary, Tamil Nadu State Chess Association and other office bearers of Tiruvarur District Chess Association. Rtn. J. Kanakarajan was the chief guest. The welcome speech was given by Rtn.B.Balajai Venkatraman.
Championship was organised by Tiruvarur District Chess Association from 2nd to 6th January, 2022. Championship carried out a total cash prize of Rs.75,000/- spread over 20 prizes. This championship attracted 94 players from 24 districts across Tamil Nadu State. Miss P.Balakannamma of Chennai was the top seed.
Eleven Players shared the lead with the top seed at the end of the 2nd round. Eight players shared the lead with the perfect score after the 3rd round. 5th seed Poornasri M K and 8th seed Janani J of Chennai were upset by Raveena Sri of Thanjavur and Tejaswi R of Coimbatore respectively in the 3rd round.
The game between P.Balakannamma and J.Saranya of Chennai ended in peace in the 5th round. At the final round Saranya and Balakannamma won their games against Tejaswini G and Aswinika Mani R with 8.5 points each respectively. But better tie break helped WFM Saranya J of Chennai to lift the winner’s trophy of ONGC 50th Tamil Nadu State Women Chess Championship 2022 and carried home the winner’s prize money of Rs. 20,000/-, Miss. Balakannamma P of Chennai stood 2nd place and received Rs. 15,000/- as cash award with a trophy. Miss Meenatchi Rajam of Madurai and Lakshmi C of Chennai secured 3rd and 4th place respectively with 7 points each.
top 4 prize winners with the chief guest and other guests
Lion C. Balamurugan, President, Tiruvarur Vijayapuram traders’ association was the Chief Guest for the prize distribution function Shri. R.K.Balagunashekaran, Secretary, Tiruvarur district chess association & Joint secretary, Tamil Nadu State Chess Association welcomed the gathering. Total prize money of Rs. 75,000/- was distributed to the top 20 players by Shri. P.Chidhambaram, Tiruvarur DRO in the presence of Shri. N.Shanthakumar, President, Tiruvarur District Chess Association, Shri. Muruguvendan, Tiruvarur District Sports and Youth Welfare officer, Dr. Senthil, Manager, AKM groups of companies, Arima Thiruthuraipoondi Shri. Selvaganapathy, Shri. Ilayaraja, Manager, Dharani groups of companies, Mannargudi Auditor Shri. Senthilkumar and Shri. Jeyachandran, Tiruvarur District Physical Educational Officer, Shri. N.Murlidharan, Principal, New Bharath, Higher Secondary School, Tiruvarur.
Top 20 rankers
| Rank | Title | Name | Pts | District |
| 1 | WFM | Saranya J | 8½ | Chennai |
| 2 | Bala Kannamma P | 8½ | Chennai | |
| 3 | Meenatchi Rajam V | 7 | Madurai | |
| 4 | WFM | Lakshmi C | 7 | Chennai |
| 5 | Tejaswini G | 6½ | Tiruvallur | |
| 6 | Jayashree P.K. | 6½ | Salem | |
| 7 | Shivani Senthilkumar | 6½ | Chennai | |
| 8 | Poorna Sri M.K | 6½ | Chennai | |
| 9 | Vijayasubhasri S | 6 | Sivagangai | |
| 10 | Tejaswi R | 6 | Coimbatore | |
| 11 | Sindhusree K | 6 | Chengalpattu | |
| 12 | Janani J | 6 | Chennai | |
| 13 | Harsha R | 6 | Coimbatore | |
| 14 | Trisha B | 6 | Chennai | |
| 15 | Kanishka S | 6 | Salem | |
| 16 | Aswinika Mani R | 6 | Chennai | |
| 17 | Harshini B | 6 | Chennai | |
| 18 | Jaysree S | 6 | Salem | |
| 19 | Padmini S | 6 | kanchi | |
| 20 | Lakshanaa R | 6 | Tiruvallur |
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