PANJIM: Devesh Anand Naik from Ponda, Std VIII student of Bhatikar Model High School, Margao stepped it up in grand style to win the 1st Venkatesh and Sumati Shanbhag Memorial All-Goa Open Rapid Rolling Trophy Chess Tournament organised by Mourmugao Taluka Chess Association under the aegis of Goa Chess Association, at St Theresa High School, Mangor Hill, Vasco, recently.
Devesh cleverly climbed up to the top position by beating all the opponents till the eight round and required a draw in the last round which he snatched from higher seed Datta Kambli in a slightly minus position thus to remain unbeaten by scoring 8.5 from nine rounds to clinch the title.
Earlier, he in the crucial seventh and eight rounds beat top seed P.M. Kantak and third seed Anirudh Parsekar to take sole lead.
Anirudh Parsekar of Mormugoa Taluka finished runners-up due to his better tie-break score outplaying Vivaan Ballikar of Salcete Taluka in the last round with 8 points from nine rounds and Parth Salvi of Bardez Taluka also with 8 points secured the third position.
Other winners from fourth to 20th position are: Datta Kambli, Saish Ulhas Fondekar, Anish Naik, Morajkar Navin, Porob Vraj, Shirodkar Ayush, Vivaan Sunil Ballikar, Ganpule Utkarsh, WCM Gunjal Chopdekar, G. Madhavan, Thorat Aishwaraya, Akhilesh Nigaley, Vasant Naik, Tanad Bandodkar, Thorat Sanjay, Sudhakar Patgar and Ayush Shetkar.
Other category prizes: Veteran player Ashesh Keni. U-15 Boys: Sahil Desai, Parab Rishikesh. U-15 Girls: Goongoon Ghate, Sarah Fernandes. U-13 Boys: Rahul Mahale, Alex Sequeira. U-13 Girls: Nayak Pavitra, Sanvi Naik Gaonkar. U-11 Boys: Edrick Vaz, Vicente Fernandes. U-11 Girls: Srilaxmi Kamat, Gawas Sani. U-9 Boys: Keith Albuquerque, Ethan Vaz. U-9 Girls: Vaishnavi Parab, Raikar Rivia. U-7 Boys: Sairaj Narvenkar, Erwin Albuquerque. U-7 Girls: Lyia Marysil Silveira, Faldesai Shreyashi. Youngest Player Muriel Shanessa Fernandes, Best St Theresa High School players — Charuta Shetye, Rania Shaikh and Muzainah Shaikh.
The winners were awarded with cash prizes and trophies by chief guest Sukant Shanbag in the presence of guest of honour Gopal Krishna Shanbag, chess companion of Late Venkatesh Shanbhag; senior citizen from Vasco Baburao Govind Redkar, Treasurer of AICF Kishor Bandekar, Secretary MTCA Mukund Kambli, Chief Arbiter Sanjay Kavlekar, Deputy Arbiter Swapnil Hoble, VP of GCA Ashesh Keni, Vasant Naik, VP of MTCA Pundalik Nayak, Treasurer MTCA Sujan Sukhtankar, Vice President of GCA Vasant Naik, Joint Secretary of GCA Satyawan Hamalkar, Anil Patil, Mukesh Adhia and other committee members of MTCA.
The tournament was concluded by chief arbiter Sanjay Kavlekar and Swapnil Hoble. Later, Anil Patil proposed the vote of thanks. In all, 263 from across Goa with 64 rated players participated.
