GM Negi, WIM Atousa get top billing in Asian junior chess tourney

Mumbai, Dec 13 (UNI) Grand Master Parimarjan Negi of India and Woman International Master Atousa Pourkashiyan from Iran have been given top billing in the boys and girls section respectively in the LIC Asian Junior Chess Championship, which got underway at the prestigious Goregaon Sports Club here.

GM Negi with an ELO of 2514 is the star attraction for this tournament, which has attracted 52 participants in the boy's section inclusive of 1 GM, 4 IMs and 3 FMs while the girl's section has 20 participants inclusive of 5 WIM and 2 WFM from the 8-Asian countries, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iran Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Sri-lanka and host India.

The other prominent players in the boy's section are Ashwin Jayaram, IM Alavi Sayed Javad from Iran while WIM Kiran Manisha Mohanty and WIM Mary Ann Gomes would pose a challenge to the top-seeded Iranian WIM Atousha in the girl's section.

The tournament would be played on a 9-round swiss-league and medals would be awarded to the top three players each in the boy's and girl's section. The tournament is organised by Venus Chess Academy and is conducted by Bombay Chess Association.

Earlier the tournament was inaugurated by the Municipal Commissioner of Mumbai, Jayraj Phatak.

UNI