PANJIM: Aayush Shirodkar in Open and WCM Gunjal Chopdekar in Girls won the Shree Ganesh Kala Krida Va Sanskrutik Mandal Goa State U-19 Open and Girls Chess Championship/Selection 2024 organised by the Bicholim Taluka Chess Association under the auspices of Goa Chess Association and sponsored by Shree Ganesh kala Krida Va Sanskrutik Mandal Kumbharwada, Mayem, Bicholim, at Sateri Devastan Hall Kumbharwada, Mayem-Bicholim, recently.
Winner Aayush Shirodkar remained undefeated in the tournament with the score of 6 from 6 rounds. Chaitanya Gaonkar with the score of 5 points stood second, while Saras Summer Powar finished third in the Open Category.
WCM Gunjal Chopdekar and Shriya Patil scored 5.5 points each but due to better tie-break Gunjal was declared winner, Shriya Patil stood second and Rachel Pereira finished third in the girls category.
Other prize winners in Open Category: Shubh Borkar, Mayuresh Desai, Aaryavrat Naik Dessai, Vihaan Tari, Aarav Chopdekar, Joshua Telles and Siddhiraj Gaunkar.
Other prize winners in Girls Category: Lyia Silveira, Saeeja Dessai, Siddhi Naik, Shinel Rodrigues, Vaishnavi Parab, Tanvi Hadkonkar and Skyla Rodrigues.
Age category prize winners U-7, U-9, U-11, U-13, U-15 in Open: Evan Telles, Narayan alias Aarav Prabhu Dessai, Rishit Gawas, Shubhan Dhume, Shaurya Agrasani, Atharva Borkar, Hriday Morajkar, Kanishk Sawant, Anish Khorjuenkar, Chaitanya Patil, Viom Parab, Yatharth Desai, Atharv Parab, Adarsh Naik, Shuban Malkar
Age category prize winners U-7, U-9, U-11, U-13, U-15 in Girls: Shivanya Rao, Sidonia Dacunha, Krutika Aggrawal, Shreeya Bandodkar, Rochel Pereira, Saachi Salgaonkar, Navya Narvekar, Svetlana Dacunha, Aditi Kamat, Avni Kamat, Samrithi Malkar, Purvi Neswankar.
There were 92 entries in Open, while 52 in Girls from across Goa.
Mayem MLA Premendra Vishnu Shet gave away the prizes to the winners and runners-up in the presence of Goa Chess Association President Mahesh Candolkar, Panch member Dilip Shet, Nilesh Shetkar, Arvind Mhamal (chief arbiter), Ganesh Shet, Rajan Kadkade (President BTCA), Dr Satyawan Harmalkar (tournament director) and others.
The first four players each from Open and Girls category will represent the State at National U-19 Junior Chess Championship 2024 to be held at Haryana, from September 16 to 24.
