Team Herald
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MARGAO: International Master Subhayan Kundu of West Bengal emerged champion of the Unity Club 2nd Open Blitz Chess Tournament 2025, held at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, recently.
Kundu remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, finishing with 7 points, and secured the title by defeating Edrick Vaz of Salcete on the top board in the final round. He received a cash prize of Rs 5,000 and a trophy.
Rushikesh Kabnurakar claimed second place with 6 points after a win over Saras Summer Powar and was awarded Rs 3,500 and a trophy. Edrick Vaz finished third and took home Rs 2,500 and a trophy. Kanishk Sagar Sawant secured fourth place with 6 points after defeating Sumeetkumar M S, earning Rs 1,500 and a trophy. Sairaj Dilip Vernekar clinched fifth place with a final-round victory over Shresth Suraj Ghonsekar and was awarded Rs 1,000 and a trophy.
The 6th to 15th prize winners were Pushkar Dere, Joshua Mark Telles, Prashanth J Naik, Saurish Kashelkar, Rajveer Patil, Nadar Thangraj, Rachel Pereira, Bezstrakhov Dmitry, Aayush Shirodkar and Chaitanya V Gaonkar.
Age category winners in the Open section included Aarth Siddhesh Shenvi Karapurkar, Hriday Tukaram Morajkar and Kshitij Naik Gaonkar (U-15 boys); Saras Summer Powar, Nathan Jess Cardozo, and Rithesh K (U-13 boys); Vihaan Tari, Shresth Suraj Ghonsekar, and Mathew Pramod Panakkal (U-11 boys); Rejmon Gavin Fernandes, Prayank Gaonkar, and Vihang Akshay Sawant (U-9 boys); and Evan Antonio Telles, Naksh Sinari, and Shrihan Chougale (U-7 boys).
Among girls, age group winners included Anvi Abhay Desai, Riddhi Sanjay Gaude and Jennica Sequeira (F-15); Aadhvika A, Seona Dipcia Veigas, and Lyia Marysil Silveira (F-13); Muriel Shanessa Fernandes, Skyla Rodrigues, and Diya Naik (F-11); Shaurvi Kankonkar, Sidonia Dacunha, and Shreesha Sushant Ghadi (F-9); and Aaradhya Dessai, Yajwari Tukaram Shetye, and Eliaza Phacelia Barreto (F-7).
The tournament featured a total prize pool of Rs 20,000 and 33 trophies. It was officiated by IA Ashesh Keni (Chief Arbiter), IA Jostna Saripali (deputy chief arbiter), FA Asha Shirodkar, NA Ridikesh Dilip Vernekar, NA Anushka Naik and NA Abhishesh Narayan Prabhu Dessai.
Chief guest Chirag Naik, a local social worker and businessman, along with Ashesh Keni, secretary of Goa Chess Association, Rajendra Malkarnekar of Lions Club of Rawanfond, Damodar Zambulikar, vice president of Goa Chess Association, Pradeep Gaonkar, president of Unity Club and Unity Club secretary Abhishesh Narayan Prabhu Dessai, presented the prizes to the winners.