Young chess champions from across Hyderabad and neighbouring districts were felicitated at a prize distribution ceremony organised at the NMDC Corporate Office, here on Saturday, following the fourth edition of the NMDC-The Hindu in School Chess Tournament.

NMDC chairman and managing director Amitava Mukherjee presented prizes, certificates and shields to the winners in the five age categories at the ceremony held on Saturday. Senior NMDC officials, along with parents, participants and school representatives, were present.

The tournament, organised by NMDC in association with The Hindu Group, was held earlier this month at the State Art Gallery, under the aegis of the Telangana Chess Association. It attracted 470 young players from more than 170 schools.

In the Under-7 category, Akshath Chowhan Lavudiya of Blooms High School, Hanumakonda, won 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. Siddharth Chodisetti of HPS-Begumpet finished second while Reyansh Singhal of Insignis Transnational School, Chandanagar, secured third place.

In the Under-11 category, Sai Sathvik Jayampu of Gitanjali School, Begumpet, took the top spot. Ayaanraj Kottapally of Chirec International School, Serilingampally, finished second and Jithin Yalavarthi of World One School, Kondapur, stood third.

The Under-13 title went to Aarush Singhai of Bolton School, Secunderabad. Hithesh Sai Saketh Moyida of Silver Oaks International School was the runner-up, followed by Vihaan Singh of The Sriram Universal School, Nanakramguda.

In the Under-15 category, Adhyayan Banerjee of Delhi Public School, Nacharam, emerged champion. Sundar Divij P of Johnson Grammar School, Nacharam, secured second place and Andabatla Satvik of Railway Junior College, Tarnaka, finished third.

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

Apart from the prizes, certificates and school bags presented to the winners, the top 50 performers will receive subscriptions to Young World and TeenDigest from The Hindu Group.

Parents, participants and school representatives appreciated NMDC’s initiative, which is being organised for the fourth consecutive time in association with The Hindu Group, for providing young players a platform to compete and encouraging sportsmanship and strategic thinking through chess.