RAIA: IM Ameya Audi outsmarted IM Sameer Kathmale in the last round to take the sole lead with 8.5 points out of 9 to remain unbeaten to clinch the chess title of third edition of 3rd Venkatesh & Sumathi Shanbhag Memorial All-India FIDE Open Rapid Rating Rolling Trophy Chess Tournament 2024, at St Theresa High School, Mangor Hill, Vasco, recently.
Goa’s child prodigy IM Ethan Vaz defeated Reuben Colaco to secure 8 points out of 9 to end runner-up.
IM Ameya pocketed the winner’s purse of Rs 25,000. IM Ethan and IM Sameer Kathmale from Maharashtra secured the second and third positions, respectively.
Overall the tournament attracted a record participation of 353 players from across the country out of which 118 were ELO rated players with four International Masters and other title players who competed actively.
Other than the main list, there were competitions in 35 different age group categories including veterans, U-7, specially-abled, with the winners and runners-up in each category receiving trophies.
Other winners are: Mandar Pradip Lad IM, Ritviz Parab, Snehal Bhosale, Sudarshan Bhat, Reuben Colaco, Datta Kambli, Saras Summer Powar, Dmitry Bezstrakhov, Asmita Avijit Ray, Edrick Vaz, Rishikesh Parab, Arthav Shirodker, Joshua Mark Telles, Balkrishna Pednekar, Saurish Kashelkar, Paarth P Salvi, Yash Paul.
All-India age category winners: U-15 boys: Aarth Siddhesh Shenvi Karapurkar, Chaitanya Sushant Patil. Girls: Shriya Patil, Shree Ghonsekar. U-13 boys: Hriday Tukaram Morajkar, Avnish Borker. Girls: Sequeira Jennica, Rachel Pereira. U-11 boys: Atharv Ghatwal, Aaryavrat Rasiket Naik Desai. Girls: Vasarhelyi Szurina, Skyla Rodrigues. U-9 boys: Gawas Rishit, Shresth Suraj Ghonsekar. Girls: Redkar Shanvi, Tvisha Vallabha Dessai. Boys: Evan Antonio Telles, Prayank Gaonkar. U-7 Girls: Dacunha Sidonia, Rao Shivanya. Best unrated: Ridima Parab, Sagar Gavrav. Best Veteran: Sudhakar Patgar, Wilson Cruz, Vikrant Chole. Best women: Ambika Masagi, Gawas Sani.
All-Goa age category prizes: U-15 boys: Ruthvik Raikar, Desai Dhruv Manjunath. Girls: Aarvi Vikas Naik, Sayyed Mahdiya. U-13 boys: Shlok Sanjiv Mesta, Chopdekar Aarav. Girls: Lyia Marysil Silveira, Shrama Morudkar. U-11 boys: ACM Rudra Nagarsekar, Shaurya Prabhu Agrasani. U-11 girls: ACM Muriel Shanessa Fernandes, Jensina Sequeira. U-9 boys: Sarthak Naik, Aryan Naik. Girls: Bandodkar Shreeya Shamba, Krutika Aggarwal. U-7 boys: Narayan alias Aarav A Prabhu Dessai, Naik Aarav Gaurish. Girls: Aaradya Dessal, Amaira Borkar.
MTCA age category players: U-15 boys: Paul Debjyoti, Singh Anarva. Girls: Sachi S Gayak, Grisha Singbal. U-13 boys: Redkar Daksh, Aarush Salgaonkar. Girls: Sayyed Maizah, Kewat Divyansha. U-11 boys: Rhys Dominic Carvalho, Pagi Advaith. Girls: Aarna Sawant, Mishka Shah. U-9 boys: Ravinsh Vishnu Kamat, Gawas Rishabh. Girls: Ghonge Drisha, Keloskar Survi. U-7 boys: Nagueshkar Aarav, Chougale Shrihan.
The prize distribution ceremony was held in the presence of chief guest Shukant Shanbagh, MTCA President Kishor Bandekar, Secretary Mukund Kambli, Chief Arbiter IA Sanjay Kavlekar, Treasurer Pundlik Nayak, member Sujan Sukhtankar, Mukesh Adhia, Vasant Naik, Balakrishna Podwal, Anil Patil, Deepak Gawas, Prashant Raikar, Pushpashil Satrdekar, Avijit Ray, Barnared Vales, Prakash Insulkar.
Arbiters IA Sanjay Kavlekar, FA Swapnil Hoble, SNA Tanishq Kavlekar, SNA Preity Mendes, SNA Sachindra Naik, SNA Kiran Kumar, SNA Amrut Naik handled the overall affairs of the tournament.Candidate Master Swapnil Hoble compered, while Deepak Gawas proposed a vote of thanks.
The turnamnet was organised by the Mormugao Taluka Chess Association under the aegis of the Goa Chess Association and supported by businessman and philanthropist Sukant Shanbhag in memory of his late parents.
