Bhubaneswar: After the inaugural round 18 boys and 16girls shared one point each in the XXV National U-9 Boys and Girls Chess Championship, Koustav Cup at Koustav Group of Institute Campus here on Saturday, for the first time being organised by Khurdha District Chess Association under aegis of All India Chess Federation.

As many as 250 players from across the country participated in the both boys and girls categories of the 11 round tournament.

As host players Rakesh Jena and Rutumbarabidhar fetched silver medals in the last year’s championship it is expected that would earn more laurels in this event. State players Rudraksh Parida, Subhasis Patnaik, Ansuman Samal,Adyasha Mohapatra and Saina Salonika are in the title race. Kustav Group chairman Pravat Ranjan Mallick, Vivek Tiberwal, Manoj Patnaik, Subhasis Patnaik and SR Patanaik were present in the inaugural function.