The Kamana Cup National Chess Championships starts in Lalitpur on Saturday.

The eventual champions will ride home a motor cycle worth Rs 172,900, while the second, third and fourth place finishers will earn Rs 50,000, Rs 30,000 and Rs 25,000 respectively. Lalitpur District Savings and Credit Cooperative Union is organising the April 2-7 tournament in coordination with Tamrakar Samaj of Lalitpur and Shivani Air.

The tournament will be played in Swill League format over 11 rounds. Top four players after six rounds will qualify for the super knockout stage that will decide the top four players, informed the organisers at a press meet here on Friday. Apart from the top four players, 12 others players are also assured of cash prizes. Cash prizes are also on offer for top five ladies as well as U-19 player, rated and unrated players. The organisers have set aside Rs 4,98,400 for cash prize alone.