PANJIM: Top seed IM Bhakti Kulkarni (2282) of Goa is leading with four points after outwitting Nadar Thangaraj (1604) of Maharastra in the fourth round and Atharva Katkar (1346) in the third round of All India FIDE Rapid Rating chess tournament at Margao Cricket Club premises, on Saturday.
IM Sammed Shete (2269) of Maharastra outsmarted Arnav Kherdekar (1575) Maharastra in the fourth round and Anish Naik (Goa) (1388) in the third round to collect four points on the second board. IM Vikramaditya Kulkarni (2175) (Maharastra) outplayed Wilson Cruz (1570) (Goa) in the fourth round and Mayuresh Desai (1280) (Goa) in the third round on the third board.
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IM candidate Ritviz Parab (2174) (Goa) defeated Vivaan Ballikar (1538) (Goa) in the fourth round and Atharva Sawal (1290) in the third round, playing on the fourth board.
FM Ethan Vaz (2147)(Goa) defeated Aayush Shirodkar (1519) (Goa) in the fourth round and Yash Prabhu (1262) in the third round, playing on the fifth board.
FM Jeet Jain (2108) of Gujarat outwitted Joshua Telles (1245) (Goa) in the fourth round and Avil D’Souza (Karnatak) (1272) in the third round, playing on the sixth board.
Players having won their matches along with the above leaders are Niraj Saripalli, Devesh Anand Naik and Ekka Aniket.
The tournament has drawn 173 players from across the country including Maharastra, Karnataka, Gujarat and one player all the way from USA.
Earlier, Margao MLA Digambar Kamat, inaugurated the event in the presence of Yogesh Naik, president, Margao Cricket Club; Rajesh Kakodkar, secretary, Rotary Club of Margao and Ashesh Keni, secretary, Goa Chess Association; Arjuna awardee IM Bhakti Kulkarni and other dignitaries.
The games are being played in Rapid format under the aegis of Goa Chess Association and All India Chess Federation and FIDE and will continue on October 15. Prizes distribution ceremony will be held at 5.30 pm. Businessman and author Datta Damodar Naik, owner of New Millenium Bakers will grace the occasion.
