Team Herald
VASCO: Om Barde and Genu Pharmaceutical brand ambassador Gunjal Chopdekar emerged winners of the All Goa State Sub Junior Open U-15 State Selection cum Championship in the open and girls categories respectively, held at Ravindra Bhavan, Vasco, on Sunday.
In the last round, second seeded Om Barde defeated Morajkar Navin of Mormugao Taluka Chess Association to clinch the title with seven points from eight rounds. Om required just one point from last two rounds to win the title but was surprised by Ayush Shirodkar of Salcete taluka in the seventh round.
Ayush later put up a strong battle to win over Sairaj Dilip Vernekar in the final round to finish second with 6.5 points. Om Barde and Ayush Shirodkar have been selected to represent the State at the junior national to be held in Gujarat in October along with Devesh Anand Naik and Advait Rajiv Dhawalikar who finished third and fourth respectively with six points
In the girl’s category, Woman Candidate Master Gunjal Chopdekar beat Netra P Savaikar to remain unbeated in the tournament and finish with six points. Despite being held in her final round by Charuta J Shetya, Woman Candidate Master Swera Ana Braganca finished second with 4.5 points. Tanvi Hadkonkar beat Shweta Sahakari to finish third on 4.5 points. Netra Savikar finished fourth with four points and joined Gunjal, Swera and Tanvi to complete the team for the junior nationals.
The tournament was organised by Mormugao Taluka Chess Association under the leadership of the Goa Chess Association secretary and Tournament Director Kishor Bandekar. Sanjay Kavlekar is the Chief arbiter while Swapnil Hoble is the deputy arbiter of the tournament.
