Nubairshah Shaikh and Sakshi Chitlange dominate SACC Open and Women Championships 2023, Sayantan second
20/06/2023 - IM Mohammad Nubairshah Shaikh scored an unbeaten 8.5/9 to win SACC Championship 2023 Open. WGM-elect WIM Sakshi Chitlange scored a perfect 7/7 to become the champion in the Women's event. Nubair won this event for the second consecutive time. He won the inaugural edition which was then named 'SAARC Championship' in 2019. The highest rated player of the event, GM Sayantan Das scored 7.5/9 to finish second. His sole loss was against the eventual winner. Nepal no.2 FM Rupesh Jaiswal scored 6/9 to finish third. Sakshi finished a staggering 1.5 points ahead of the field Bangladesh no.4 woman, Wadifa Ahmed scored 5.5/7 to secure second and Nepal no.3 woman, WFM Sujana Lohani was placed third with a score of 4.5/7. The top three prizes in the Open were NRS 150000, 100000 and 50000, for Women it was NRS 100000, 60000 and 40000 along with a trophy and medal each respectively. All photos are by ChessBase Nepal unless stated otherwise.