Team Herald
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MARGAO: Maharashtra’s Shaunak Badole and Telangana’s WCM Deekshitha Modipalli emerged national champions in the Open and Girls’ sections respectively at the 38th National Under-13 Chess Championship 2025 held at Daivadnya Bhavan, Margao, recently.
Badole (2086) outplayed Kerala’s Arush A (2105) on the top board to seal the Open crown to remain unbeaten with 10 points. He received a trophy and Rs 80,000. Karnataka’s Siddhanth Poonja (2215) outsmarted Dharsh M of Tamil Nadu to take second place on 9 points (Rs 60,000), while CM Madhvendra Pratap Sharma (2187) of Madhya Pradesh claimed third with 8.5 points after defeating CM Vyom Malhotra of Haryana.
Maharashtra’s Siddhant Salunke (8.5 points) and Gujarat’s Shubh Atha (8.5) completed the top five.
In the girls’ section, WCM Deekshitha (1934) secured the title to remain unbeaten with 9.5 points after drawing with Gujarat’s Arpita Patankar. She pocketed Rs 80,000 and a trophy. Maharashtra’s Mysha Perwez finished runner-up on 9 points, while West Bengal’s Maitreyi Mondal took third with 8.5. WCM Aamuktha Guntaka and Sravyasree Bheemarasetty, both from Andhra Pradesh, followed in fourth and fifth place.
Goa’s best performers were Joshua Mark Telles (38th, 7.5 points) in the Open and Asmi Amit Terse (38th, 7 points) in the girls’ event.
The championship drew a record 597 players from across the country. Chief guest Minister for Public Works Digambar Kamat released the championship souvenir at the closing ceremony, attended by All India Chess Federation’s Ajit Verma and Goa Chess Association officials.