Udupi: The South Zone Inter-University Chess Tournament got underway here at the Dr TMA Pai Hall at KMC on Tuesday December 5 with 57 teams vying for top honours.

The best four universities will qualify to represent south zone at the All-India Inter-University Chess tournament to be held in Meerut later this month. University teams from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala will play seven rounds in the Swiss league format.

The tournament was formally inaugurated by international master, Stany George Antony from Shivamogga. Speaking on the occasion, IM Stany praised the facilities available at the university to conduct a chess tournament of this size and requested the authorities to consider hosting an international grandmasters' tournament. To which Dr H S Ballal, pro chancellor MAHE agreed.

When Stany got the IM status, he became the youngest player in Karnataka to achieve the distinction. Registrar Dr Narayana Sabhahit welcomed the gathering and Dr Vinod Nayak, sports secretary MAHE gave the vote of thanks.

Osmania University, Hyderabad is the top seed with average rating 2158 followed by Anna University, Chennai (2121), University of Madras, Chennai (2111). International Master Al Muthaiah (2408) from SRM University, Fide Master Sai Agni Jeevithes (2336) from Osmania University, Kumaran B from University of Madras, Ajay Krishna (2289) from Anna University are the star players of the championship.

At the end of the second round, twelve teams are in the lead with four match points each.

Important results of round 2

Osmania University (4) defeated University of Kerala (2), University of Calicut (2) lost to Anna University(4), University of Madras (4) defeated Andhra University(2), Bharathiar University (2) lost to SRM University (4), PES University (2) lost to Kannur University (4), Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (2) lost to National Institute Of Technology Karnataka (4), Mangalore University (4) defeated Acharya Nagarjuna University (2).