PANJIM: Iranian GM Idani Pouya emerged champion of the Goa Chess Association’s 1st Goa international Open Grandmaster Chess Tournament, following his impressive final round win over International Master Karthik Venkataraman at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium, Taleigao.
After a thrilling and nerve wrecking eight days event, which saw many unexpected results and upsets, finally gave Goa Chess Association their first champion— Idani, who finished at the top with 8.5 points — at the International Grandmaster Chess tournament.
On the top board, Idani employed Dzindzi variation of Indian defence.
After 30th round Idani had an exchange a piece for three pawns and went on to convert it into an advantage and defeated Karthik in 41 move.
Five players finished with eight points but despite equal on the table, GM Babujain Levon and GM Deepan Chakkravarthy finished second and third respectively due to the better tie-break points.
On board two, GM Babujain Levon and GM Kasparov Sergey played a daw which made it easier for Idani to win the title with ease.
India’s Rahul VS stunned GM Neverov Valeriy which helped him to achieve the International Master norm.
Neverov adopted the Queen’s Knight Variation of teh Dutch defence. It was equal game till the 21st move, and thereafter Neverov faltered giving up two pawns. Rahul VS went on to win the game in 61 moves.
Surprisingly Top seed Kravtsiv Martyn finished 25th with 6.5 points.
Fide Master Nitish Belurkar recorded a famous win against GM Bernadskiy Vitaliy which saw the young Goan lad grab seven points and help him finish on 20th position, the best among the Goan players.
Fide Master Nitish Belurkar employed the Chigorian variation of the French defence and in the 23rd move a superb queen maneur enabled Nitish to win the exchange and defeat the Grandmaster Bernadskiy 14 moves later.
The Geno Pharmaceutical brand ambassador narrowly missed the International Master norm.
“It’s a great feeling to be performing well at the home ground. Drawing with two International Masters and one Grandmaster and then defeating one GM. I wish to carry this positive feelings into the next tournament and achieve the International Master norm which I missed here by a whisker. I would also like to thank my parents for their support,” expressed Nitish at the end of the prize distribution ceremony.
FM Ameya Audi and Ritviz Parab also made it to the top 40 list as they finished 33rd and 38th respectively. Ameya beat Ajay Karthikeyan in the final round while Ritiv Parab lost the battle against GM Tukhaev Adam.
Both the Goans managed to collect 6.5 points.
Earlier, speaking on the occasion, Sports Minister Manohar (Babu) Azgaonkar said, “Today Goa is becoming a destination of various events. It has a unique identity and with this tournament Goa has achieved another feather in its hat of attracting tourist across the world. I complement GCA under the leadership of Power Minister Nilesh Cabral for organising such grand tournament in the State,”
Chief guest and Sports Minister Manohar Azgaonkar gave away the prizes in the presence of Power Minister and GCA President Nilesh Cabral, All India Chess Federation Secretary Bharat Singh Chauhan, AICF Treasurer and Tournament Director Kishor Bandekar, FC Goa CEO Akshay Tandon, ONGC Chess Sports Head Vikas Nigam, Nestle Group Sanjay Khajuria, Vedanta Group Sauvik Mazumdar, Vimson Group Chairman Shivanand Salgaoncar, Delta Corporation Chairman Jaidev Modi, GCA Vice President Mahesh Candolkar, GCA Treasurer Vishwas Pilankar.
