32nd PSPB Inter Unit Chess Tournament: IOC-A, ONGB-B, ONGC-A, BPCL make semis

Pune, Mar 9 2023: Indian Oil Corporation-A, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited and both teams of Oil &Natural Gas Corporation – A and B qualified for the semi-finals in the team championships of the 32nd Petroleum Sports Promotion Board Inter Unit Chess Tournament on Thursday.

Indian Oil Corporation-A topped Pool 1 with 13 match points in the league stage of the team championships being played at the PYC Hindu Gymkhana while Oil Natural Gas Corporation A team topped Pool 2 with 14 match points.

ONGC-B with 11 match points secured the second spot in Pool 1, which had a total of seven teams, while BPCL with 12 match points, were placed second in Pool 2, which had eight teams in contention.

In a crucial encounter in Pool 1, ONGC-B defeated IOC-B with a score of 2.5-1.5. International Master V S Raahul of ONGC-B outplayed International Master Eesha Karavade of IOC-B on the top board while facing the London system of Queen-Porn opening.

Grand Master Lalith Babu of IOC-B levelled the score by defeating Grandmaster Neelotpal Das of ONGB-B in a Catalan set-up. While International Master P Konguvel of ONGC-B drew a hard-fought game against International Master Soumya Swaminathan of IOC-B. However Woman International Master Esha Sharma of ONGC-B scored a crucial victory over International Master Padmini Rout of IOC-B which helped ONGC-B team in securing a berth for the semi-final.

Earlier, in the day, Dr Dipak Ripote, Chief Commissioner , Income Tax and former IAS officer Bharat Sasane visited the prestigious tournament that is underway in the city.