Chennai: Ajay Karthikeyan, a resident of Kodambakkam, in the city has made the entire State proud after being crowned the champion at the 44th National Open chess tournament, held at Kolkata recently.
Ajay, a class nine student, secured nine points in the tournament which made him bag the honour, as nobody else could match his score.
“The competition was challenging, as 248 best players from all over the country in the sub-junior category took part in the tournament,” said Ajay who was seeded 10th in the tourney.
He played 11 games out of which he won seven and drew four, remaining unbeaten all through.
“With this victory, the current FIDE rating for Ajay is 2156 points,” said his father Karthikeyan, who also plays the game and has 1601 FIDE rating points.
It may be noted that the youngster who got enrolled in a chess academy when he was four years, qualified to the National-level match after finishing second in the State-level tournament held in Karaikudi a few months back.
“I am happy to bag the National championship. I should give credit to my coaches at the academy – Srinivasa Ranjan, Balasubramaniam and AL Kasi, my parents and school for this success,” he said, adding that he aims to be an international Master.