Bhubaneswar: September 01: The top seeded Iranian team Rasht registered a convincing 4 – 0 victory over Dubai in the final round to clinch the Dubai Cup for Asian Cities Chess Championship with 16 match points here at KiiT University on Friday. Host Bhubaneswar(KIIT) with 14 match points finished as runner up after settling for a draw with Puri in the final round encounter while Dhaka finished third with 13 match points after defeating Muscat.
Rakesh Kumar Jena of Bhuaneswar(KIIT) won Gold on second board while Rasht team members Arash Tahbaz, Faghirnavaz Ali, Sadeh Shahin and Soozankar A M won Gold on First, Third, Fourth and Fifth boards, respectively.
In a colourful closing ceremony, Shri. Achuyuta Samanta, founder Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology and Kalinga Institute of Social Science gave away the medals and trophies to the winners in presence of Shri. Sekhar Chandra Sahu, Vice President AICF, Shri. KK Sarma, Secretary All Odisha Chess Association and Shri Mahadi Abulrahim, Chief Arbiter.
Round-9 (Results) :- Rasht (16) beat Dubai (7) 4 – 0; Bhubaneswar(KIIT) (14) drew with Puri (8) 2 – 2; Muscat (7) lost to Dhaka (13) ½ – 3½ ; Penang (12) beat Bhubaneswar ‘A’ (5); Kolkata (9) drew with Cuttack (4) 2 -2 ; Chinese Taipei (6) lost to Alquds (7) 1½ -2½.
