Class III student upsets State U-9 champion in his first MSSA tournament
Abhinav Karra’s ploy of playing aggressive chess helped him upset State U-9 champion Ruhaan Mahendru (FIDE rating 1465) in the boy’s U-10 Mumbai Schools Sports Association (MSSA) inter-school chess tournament at Dadar’s IES Raja Shivaji Vidya Sankul yesterday.
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Abhinav Karra contemplates his next move yesterday. Pic/Shadad Khan
The defeat came a day after Dhirubhai Ambani International’s (BKC) Ruhaan was crowned the Maharashtra U-9 state champion. Of the four rounds that Abhinav played yesterday, he won three and had a tie in Round Four. Meanwhile, Ruhaan won three and lost one.
Abhinav was elated over his win against a rated chess player. “I was very nervous playing against Ruhaan as he is more experienced. At the start, we both attacked each other. Midway, I lost track and committed mistakes. In the last five minutes, Ruhaan was losing out on time and I won,” said Abhinav.
The Class III student of Arya Vidya Mandir (Bandra) added: “I did not think I would win against Ruhaan as he is a FIDE rated player. Also, his performance at the U-9 boys’ state chess championship (a day ago) cannot be ignored. This is the first year that I am participating in the tournament, and I am glad that I upset the best player in my category.”u00a0
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