Gauri wins JCI State chess

Gauri wins JCI State chess
HERALD SPORTS DESK
PANJIM, AUG 15
Youngsters stole the show while top seeds tumbled at late Shripad Vishnu Kamat Tarcar All-Goa State Women’s Chess Championship organised by JCI St. Inez in association with SAG and GCA.
Gauri  Hadkonkar emerged champion scoring 7.5 points out of 8 after the end of 8 rounds.  Riya Sawant emerged runners-up securing 7 points. Both Gauri and Riya emerged unbeaten.
Nandini Sarapalli emerged third while Riddhi Zantye emerged fourth alongwith . Aishwarya Thorat. All three players scored 6.5 points each.
The 6th to 10th places were won by Sayani  Kerkar, Sakshi Naik Gaonkar, Sampada Barve, Vandana Bandodkar and Disha Verekar (6 each).
Swera Braganza, Vidula Dempo, Urvi Bandekar and Aditi prabhugaonkar
were awarded the ‘Virashree Outstanding Player’ prizes for their
performances in the U-7, U-9, U-11, U-13 categories respectively.
Prasanna Swamy and Ruchika Dalvi were awarded ‘Virashree Special Prizes’ for their fine performances.
The JCI promising player prizes for children from rural areas were bagged by Sonika Vernekar, Falshruti Dalvi, Farhin Taz, Afroza B Noor and Ishika Chopdekar. Prajakta Naik won the ‘JCI young player trophy’ while Margaret Fernandes was awarded the ‘JCI outstanding senior player’ prize.
The tournament was conducted by Tanay Kaisare, the chief arbiter,
 who was assisted by D.R. Pinge, Peter Rebello, Anita Thorat, Jyotsna Sarapalli, Viju Gaonkar, Santosh Dempo and Latika Ahuja.
Chief guest Dr. Dileep N. Deobagkar (Vice-Chancellor, Goa University) )distributed the prizes alongwith guest of honour Chaitanya Tarcar of Virashree Hotels, special invitee Dr. Sanjeev Dalvi  (Superitendant, Asilo Hospital, Mapusa), Rupesh Golatkar (president
JCI St. Inez), Ashish Keni (president, GCA) and D. R Pinge. Tournament coordinator Sandeep Heble compered and proposed the vote of thanks.