Team Herald
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MARGAO: Nitish Belurkar of Tiswadi Taluka retained the All Goa Open FIDE Rating Chess Championship 2016 title organized by The Quepem and Dharbandora Taluka Chess Association under the aegis of Goa Chess Association and Sports Authority of Goa.
In the ninth round, defending champion and top seed of the tournament Nitish outsmarted Morajkar Navin of Mourmugao Taluka with white pieces to score 8.5 points and clinch the title, remaining unbeaten throughout the tournament.
On the second board, Niraj Saripalli of Salcete Taluka defeated Aditee Prabhugaonkar of Canacona Taluka to finish runners-up and Wilson Cruz of Ponda Taluka outwitted Saish Fondekar of Salcete Taluka and was placed third.
Ashesh Keni was the chief arbiter while Sanjay Kavlekar was the deputy arbiter and Swapnil Hoble, Dattaram Pinge and Sudhakar Patgar were the assistants.
The prizes were given by Vinay Tendulkar, president GCA; Kishor Bandekar, secretary GCA; Subashchandra Naik, presiden QTCA; Ashesh Keni, vice president, GCA; chief arbiter Sanjay Kavlekar, deputy arbiter; Sagar Sakordekar, vice president GCA; Maschindra Desai, secretary, DTCA. Sharendra Naik compered.
The five days tournament was played under Swiss league system in which total numbers of nine rounds were conducted and 153 players from across Goa participated out of which 53 were rated players.
Other results from fourth to 20th place: Parsekar Anirudh (Mourmugao), Tanad Anil Bandodkar, Thorat Aishwarya, Prabhugaonkar Aditee Aman, Thorat Sanjay, Milind Gauns, Morajkar Navin, Dalal Ambar Abhay, Alaina J J Pereira, Akhilesh Akshay Nigalye, Aryan Shamrao Raikar, Pratik S Borkar, Tanvi Vasudev Hadkonkar, Eesh Prabhudesai, Saish Ulhas Fondekar, Harsh Mangesh Dagare, Ishan Sanjay Pagi.
Other categories: U-7 boys: Parth Kamat, Shubh Kalangutkar. U-19 boys: Reuben Colaco, Paarth P Salvi. Girls: Srilaxmi Kamat, Anushka Arora. U-11 boys: Devesh Anand Naik, Swayam Naik. Girls: Sarah Gayle Fernandes, Sanvi Naik Gaonkar. U-13 boys: Fadte Rudresh, Prabhu Sahil Sudheer. Girls: Vibhuti S Dessai, Tejal Sunil Lotlikar. U-15: Siddhesh Datta Pednekar.
