Tejaswini Sagar Wins Gold at Under-15 World School Chess Championship

Representational Photo: A chess board.

Talented Indian youngster Tejaswini Sagar won her maiden world title bagging the gold in the under-15 category of World School Chess Championship that concluded here on Thursday.

Needing a last round win and one favourable result, the Aurangabad-girl defeated Kavinya Miyuni Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka in the ninth and final round.

Tejaswini was aided by the result on the top board as overnight leader Irina Barbayeva of Russia lost to Alisa Kozybayeva of Kazakhstan in the final clash.

For the record, Tejaswini scored seven points out of a possible nine, winning six, drawing two and losing one game.

Her defeat came earlier in the championship against compatriot Isha Sharma when the champion fell under an opening trap but in other games, Tejaswini was above par.

Barbayeva had to be content with the silver medal while top seed Nur Abidah Shanti of Indonesia wont he bronze medal in this section.

Up against a Sicilian Dragon in the last round against Rajapaksa, Tejaswini initiated an early attack in one of the main lines and found the preparation of her opponent rather fragile. The result was a win for the Indian in under two hours when she trapped her opponent's queen.

Winner of the National School Games championship a few months back, Tejaswini said she was quite happy with her achievement.

"I was waiting for this event for many months now and I am happy it worked out quite fine for me in the end," she said after winning the gold medal.

Speaking about her performance, Tejaswini was quite candid.

"I think I made it very difficult for myself after losing to Isha but luckily I did not give up hope, in the end the last round result on top board was in my favour and even if that had ended in a draw," she observed.

Among other Indians in the fray, Anand Nadar bagged the silver medal in under-15 open category while Saloni Sapole also won the silver in under-17 girls' section.