As many as 470 young chess players from more than 170 schools across Telangana participated in ‘The Hindu in School Chess Tournament’ held at the State Gallery of Art, Madhapur, here on Sunday.

The tournament, hosted by the NMDC in association with The Hindu Group, was conducted across five age categories under the Telangana Chess Association.

NMDC deputy general manager Ch. Srinivasa Rao inaugurated the tournament. Speaking on the occasion, he said NMDC would continue to encourage sporting activities and referred to the Bailadila Kabaddi League recently organised by the public sector undertaking.

The tournament was conducted in the Swiss League format in accordance with the latest FIDE rules. R. Chandra Mouli served as the chief arbiter and R. Sriram as the deputy chief arbiter.

In the Under-7 category, Akshath Chowhan Lavudiya of Blooms High School, Hanumakonda, secured the first prize, followed by Shaik Shazwa of St. Ann’s High School, Secunderabad, and Sulaniya Utkarsh of Pallavi International School, Attapur.

Sreyansh Thumati of Birla Brainiacs, Hyderabad, emerged winner in the Under-9 category, while Siddharth Chodisetti of Hyderabad Public School, Begumpet, and Reyansh Singhal of Insignis Transnational School, Chandanagar, secured the second and third positions, respectively.

In the Under-11 category, Sai Sathvik Jayampu of Gitanjali School, Begumpet, took the top position, followed by Ayaanraj Kottapally of Chirec International School, Serilingampally, and Jithin Yalavarthi of World One School, Kondapur.

Aarush Singhai of Bolton School, Secunderabad, won the Under-13 category, while Hithesh Sai Saketh Moyida of Silver Oaks International School and Vihaan Singh of The Sriram Universal School, Nanakramguda, finished in second and third spots, respectively.

In the Under-15 category, Adhyayan Banerjee of Delhi Public School, Nacharam, secured the first prize. Sundar Divij P. of Johnson Grammar School, Nacharam, finished second while Andabatla Satvik of Railway Junior College, Tarnaka, secured the third position.

The winners will be presented with prizes, certificates and shields at a ceremony scheduled to be held at the NMDC Corporate Office in Masab Tank on August 15. This is the fourth time that the NMDC hosted the tournament in association with The Hindu Group.