Team Herald
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VASCO: Sairaj Vernekar of Salcete Taluka Chess Association emerged as the winner of the All-Goa U-11 Open State Chess Championship cum selection organised by Mormugao Taluka Chess Association under the aegis of Goa Chess Association, at Regina Mundi School Campus, Chicalim, on Sunday.
Sairaj playing on the second board was fortunate enough to win the title as players on the top board like Paarth Salvi of Bardez Taluka with 6 points and the top seed Reuben Colaco also with 6 points drew in an crucial neck-to-neck match as both required a victory to become the Champion it thus helped Sairaj to win the title on a better tie-break score.
In the final round, Sairaj defeated Kakodkar Joy of Tiswadi Taluka to remain on 6.5 points from 8 rounds. All three players Sairaj Vernekar, Reuben Colaco and Paarth Salvi tied with 6.5 points each from 8 rounds but due to better tie-break, Sairaj Vernekar was declared winner while Paarth Salvi finished runners- up and Reuben Colaco had to settle on second runners up position.
Other prize winners (from 4-6): Vivaan Ballikar, Joy Kakodkar, Pratik Borkar.
Meanwhile, in the girls category, ACM.Srilaxmi Kamat of Ponda Taluka beat Avani Hegde to remain unbeaten throughout the tournament and thus clinched the U-11 girls title with a clear half point lead.
AIM Naik Sayuri pulled off a stunning win over Girija Pednekar on the second board to finish in second position with better tie-break score with 6 points and Shriya Patil on the third board outplayed Sampada Raikar to gain the third position also with 6 points. Other prize winners(from 4-6): Netra Sawaikar, Girija Pednekar and Mahdiya Sayyed.
The top two players in each category will represent Goa in the U-11 Nationals to be held at Karaikudi, Tamil- Nadu from July 28 to August 5. The tournament concluded smoothly at the premises of Ragina Mundi High School Chicalim-Vasco and was organised by Mourmugoa Taluka Chess Association under the aegis of Goa Chess Association. FIDE Arbiters Swapnil Hoble (Chief Arbiter) and Avinash Malvankar (Deputy Arbiter) took the charge as Arbiters.
Top six players were given prizes in each category and the prizes were given by Chief Guest Vasu Nair (GM NRB Group of companies Vasco), Guest of Honour Manoj Halarnkar, Kishor Bandekar (President Mourmugoa Taluka Chess Association), Pundalik Naik (Vice-president MTCA), Mukund Kambli(Secretary MTCA) )and other MTCA members were present at the prize distribution ceremony.
