Ganguly retains title, equals Maneul Aaron's record

Chennai, Feb 15 (UNI) Reigning champion, Grand Master Surya Shekhar Ganguly equalled India's first IM Manuel Aaron's record of five successive titles emerging the winner in the Velammal National A chess championship here today.

The contest for the title in the final round took a dramatic turn as the joint leader with Ganguly at 8.5 points, Kerala's G N Goal succumbed to S Arun Prasad of Tamil Nadu, representing PSPB while another Keralite K Rathnakaran defeated Neelotpal Das, also of PSPB.

Rathnakaran was on par with Ganguly with nine points, but the tie break was in favour of Ganguly.

Ganguly understood that the Gopal would not be able to win against Arun Prasad and he offered draw to the Delhi Grand Master Parimarjan Negi, the youngest GM in India.

When the game reached rook, knight and equal pawn ending, both signed the peace treaty.

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