Team Herald
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PANJIM: Mandar Pradip Lad (2028) outsmarted Joshua Mark Telles (1727) securing 7.5 points to emerge champion on the top board at the end of 8th Round of Unity Club’s 2nd Open Rapid Chess Tournament 2024 held at the Government College of Commerce and Economics’ multipurpose hall, Margao, recently.
Mandar was awarded a cash prize of Rs 6,000 and a trophy. Devesh Anand Naik (1863) managed to outwit Anish Naik (1700) on the second board to finish second with 7.5 points due to tie-breaks. He was awarded a cash prize of Rs 5,000 and trophy. Chaitanya Gaonkar (1748) got the better of Aryan Shamrao Raikar (1721) in the final round to finish third with 7 points. He was awarded a cash prize of Rs 4,000 and a trophy.
On the fourth board, Kambli Datta (1754) outsmarted Rishit Gawas (1531) to finish fourth with 6.5 points. Siddhiraj Gaunkar (1526) managed to outwit Arthav Shirodker (1610) in the final round to finish fifth with 6.5 points. Joshua Mark Telles (1727) finished sixth with 6 points.
IA Ashesh Keni was the Chief Arbiter of the tournament. The 7th to 15th prizes were won by Anish Naik, Hriday Morajkar, Kavish Gharse, Aryan Shamrao Raikar, Avnish Borker, Saras Summer Powar, Yash Prabhu, Rudresh Fadte and Chaitanya Patil.
The best Goa category prizes were won by the following players: U-15 Boys Open 1st place: Samuel Floriano D’Cunha, 2nd place: Sarthak Surendra Kavlekar. Girls 1st place: Avni Atul Kamat, 2nd place: Aditi Atul Kamat. U-13 Open 1st place: Kanishk Sagar Sawant, 2nd place: Sai Prabhakaran R. U-13 Girls 1st place: Jennica Sequeira, 2nd Place: Saeeja Gunesh Dessai.
U-11 Boys Open 1st place: Atharva Atul Borkar, 2nd Place: Shaurya N Prabhu Agrasani. Girls 1st place: Skyla Rodrigues, 2nd place: Muriel Shanessa Fernandes.
U-9 Boys Open 1st place: Rishit Gawas, 2nd place: Vihaan Tari. Girls 1st place: Shinel Rodrigues, 2nd place: Tvisha Vallabha Dessai.
U-7 Boys Open 1st place: Narayan Alias Aarav A Prabhu Dessai, 2nd Place: Prayank Gaonkar. Girls 1st place: Sidonia Da Cunha. Girls 2nd place: Amaira Borkar.
The best Salcete category prizes were won by the following players: U-15 Boys Open 1st place: D’Costa Franscisco Ornelas Earl. Girls 1st place: Shriya Gopal Solienkar. U-13 Boys Open 1st place: Satyam Phal.
1st place: Israa Rikarty. U-11 Boys Open 1st place: Nathan Jess Cardozo. Girls 1st place: Diya Naik. U9 Boys Open 1st place: Aryan Naik. Girls 1st place: Janelly Franshella Vaz. U-7 Boys Open 1st place: Evan Antonio Telles. Girls 1st place: Phacelia Eliaza Barreto.
Best Veteran Player (above 40 years): Prasad Naik. Best Women Player (above 15 years): Arya Dabholkar.
The tournament has drawn 174 players from all across the State.
The chief guest of the closing ceremony was Dr F M Nadaf, Principal of Government College of Commerce and Economics, Margao.
The other dignitaries present on the dias were Goa Chess Association Secretary Ashesh Keni, dentist Dr Celso Fernandes, Department of IT Electronics and Communications Assistant Director and President of Unity Club Pradeep Goankar, Treasurer Prashant Naik , Secretary Abhishesh Prabhudesai and Goa Chess Association (South) Vice-President Damodar Zambulikar.