GORU Arvind is the winner of the first Chess championship for 2013.
He edged CM Manoj Kumar at the 2nd Tappoo City Blitz Open Chess Championship in Suva yesterday.
It was an even encounter as they both recorded 10 out of 11 points. However, Arvind managed to walk away with his head held up high as he had defeated Kumar earlier.
About 25 players turned up for the opening event.
Fiji Chess Federation president Dr Virgilio De Asa said Kumar and Arvind had a close battle in the final.
"It was a very close encounter from Manoj and Goru. Both players played well in this first tournament but Goru got the edge because he earlier defeated Manoj," he said.
De Asa said the Tapoo City-sponsored event had set the platform for other championships this season.
"This is a good start to the year, congratulation to Goru for winning the first event and I believe there will be more good results as we progress through in the year.
"We had a good number of players who turned up for the day. I believe we are going to attract more players in future tournaments," he said.
Meanwhile, Cydel Kabrina won the B grade while Menash Fareed won the secondary division. Kabrina and Fareer were respectively named as best junior and most improved players for 2012.
De Asa thanked their sponsors for supporting the event for the second year in a row.