Kathmandu, September 10

Nepal’s Sajin Maharjan and Sujana Lohani earned the titles of Candidate Master at the 42nd Chess Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaijan on Friday.

Maharjan confirmed the title beating CM Paul Wojciechowski of Jersey in the seventh round in the men’s team event. He accumulated four points from six matches and could earn the title of FIDE Master if he wins two of the next three matches.

Similarly, Lohani won the title of CM defeating Svitlana Gonchar of International Chess Committee of Deaf (ICCD) in the women’s team event, according Nepal Chess Association General Secretary Hera Kaji Maharjan. Lohani accumulated four points from five matches and has the chance to earn the title of FIDE Master if she gets two points from four matches.

Meanwhile, the men’s team produced a 4-0 win against Jersey. Apart from Maharjan’s victory, Nepal’s CM Bhupendra Niraula beat Krzysztof Belzo of Jersey, while Kshitiz Bhandari edged past Graham Mooney and Bilam Lal Shrestha won against Tito Kahn. The men’s team is currently in fourth position with seven points after the completion of seven rounds.

In women’s team event, Lohani won her encounter but Nepal lost the match 3-1 against ICCD. CM Monalisa Khamboo went down to Natalya Myronenko, while Ashmita Adhikari suffered a defeat against Olga Lagutina.