Surinder and Amrita lift U-20 titles at J&K Christmas Cup Chess Tournament
Young chess talents shine at VCA’s first U-20 and U-15 tournament in Jammu
JAMMU, OCTOBER 23: Surinder Gupta and Amrita Gupta emerged champions in the Under-20 Boys and Girls categories respectively at the 1st U-20 and U-15 Open J&K Christmas Cup Chess Tournament, organised by Vivek Chess Academy at Mast Garh, Jammu.
The tournament witnessed keen competition among young chess talents from across the region. In the Under-20 Boys category, Surinder Gupta clinched the title after a closely fought contest with Pazhany Kohli. The final round game between the two ended in a draw, with both players finishing on 4.5 points each. However, Surinder was declared the winner on the basis of the Buchholz tie-break system.
In the Under-20 Girls category, Amrita Gupta delivered a consistent performance to secure first place with 4 points. Pazhany Kohli, who impressed throughout the tournament, was adjudged Best Under-15 player, showcasing remarkable skill against senior opponents.
The winners were awarded cash prizes amounting to ₹3,000 along with trophies and certificates by Vivek Bharti, owner and coach of Vivek Chess Academy. The event was conducted under FIDE-recommended Swiss pairing software, ensuring fair and competitive match-ups across all rounds.
The tournament featured five rounds, producing several closely contested matches and encouraging performances from emerging players, underlining the growing interest and competitive standard of chess in Jammu and Kashmir.
