Niraj, Gauri win chess crowns

Niraj, Gauri win chess crowns
HERALD SPORTS REPORTER
CANACONA, AUG 31
Niraj Saripalli won the All-Goa U-17 State selection chess tournament (open) while Gauri Hadkonkar clinched the U-17 girls title at Shri Datta Mandir hall, Nagorcem,Canacona, conducted by Canacona Sports Academy in association with Sports Authority of Goa along with the Goa Chess Association.
Final round results: (Top 5 boards): Niraj Saripalli (6.5) bt Omkar Damle(5), Vageesh Tendulkar (5.5) drew with Kapil Pavse(5), Vivek Shetye (4.5) drew with Akhilesh Rai (5.5), Punarm Acharya (5) bt Saeesh Bandodkar(4), Kedar Acharya (4) lost to Vinay Shetye (5).
Girls category final round results (Top 5 boards): Gauri Hadkonkar (5) bt SukanyaChari (3.5), Apoorva Naik (4.5) bt Nadia Dias (3), Trupti Naik (3) lost to Aishwarya Thorat (4), Aditee Prabhugaonkar (4) won against Sachee Bandodkar (2), Urvi Bandekar (3) bt Deepali Nagarsekar (2).
Final standings in the open category: Niraj Saripalli (6.5) out of 7 rounds, Akhilesh Rai (5.5), Vageesh Tendulkar (5.5), Omkar Damle (5), Kapil Pavse (5), Tatvesh Sawant (5). The final standings in the Girls category are: Gauri Hadkonkar (5) out of 5 rounds, Apurva Naik (4.5), Aishwarya Thorat (4), Aditee Prabhugaonkar (4), Sukanya Chari (3.5).
Ramesh Tawadkar, MLA, was the chief guest and gave the prizes in the presence of Ashesh Keni, Dr. Aman Prabhugaonkar, vice-president, Canacona Sports Academy, Sharendra Naik, secretary, Canacona Sports Academy and Anant Agni. Standrick Colaso was the chief arbiter along with Sanjay Kavlekar.
Prizes were awarded to Prajot Pagi, Saeer Petkar and Abhilash Raiker for being best players from Canacona.