Bhubaneswar, May 27: Young chess players from the Islands made an impressive mark at the 17th KIIT International Chess Festival held at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) campus in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
The Category B event, meant for players rated below 1900, was conducted from May 23 to 26 and attracted over 700 participants from across India.
Among the standout performers, J.S. Virat scored 6 points in nine rounds to secure second place in the Under-13 category. He was awarded a cash prize of ₹7,500.
Rushil Y scored 5 points from nine rounds and clinched third place in the Below-1500 rating category, earning a cash prize of ₹9,500.
Meanwhile, Woman Candidate Master (WCM) R. Kashthuri Bhai from the Islands is competing in the prestigious Category A Grandmasters section, representing the Islands alongside leading national and international players.