PONDA: Niraj Saripalli won the late Kamlakant Parab Memorial all-Goa open rapid chess tournament organised by Vardambika Kala Sangh in association with Ponda Taluka Chess Association (PTCA) at Ameya HSS hall, Curti, Ponda.
Arvind Mhamal was the Chief Arbiter of the tournament. 170 students participated in the tournament. Gunjal Chopdekar secured second place while Anirudh Parsekar settled for third place.
Gaurav Madkaikar, Sachin Kakodkar, Saish Fondekar, Datta Kambli, Anant Prabhudesai, Ishan Pagi, Swayam Naik, Sachin Gaude, Sudhakar Patgar, Yash Upadhye, Tanvi Hadkonkar, Sairaj Vernekar, Milind Gauns, Anurag Adwalpalkar, Kaushik Khedekar, Devesh Naik and Vraj Porob got 4th to 20th place respectively.
Sarah Gayle Fernandes was the best woman player and Shivani Sutar was best underrated.
Raghvendra Gupta, Gaurav Naik, Akhil Naik, Anish Naik and Shivank Kuncolienkar were the best 5 players from Ponda taluka.
The certificates and trophies were distributed at the hands of Chief Guest Dr Ketan Bhatikar, Vinayak Gaonkar (President, Vardambika Kala Sangh) in the presence of Amogh Namshiker (President, P.T.C.A.), Anand Kurtiker (Secretary, P.T.C.A.), Mahesh Khedekar (Treasurer, P.T.C.A.), Sagar Sakordekar (Founder President, P.T.C.A.), Sarita Parab (Social worker) and Avdhut Kamat (Co-ordinator).
Vatan Kuncolienkar, Pramod Kamat, Savita Naik and Jayashree Madkaikar took active part in conducting the tournament.
