RAIA: Mandar Lad, showed exceptional skill and determination throughout the tournament to remain unbeaten to emerge champion in the 4th edition of late Venkatesh and Sumathi Shanbhag chess tournament organised by the Mormugao Taluka Chess Association (MTCA) at St Theresa School, Mangor Hill, recently.
Mandar beat all his rivals from round one to round nine, to secure nine points. In the crucial last three rounds, Mandar outsmarted Colaco Reuben, Anish Naik and Parab Rishikesh to clinch the title.
Parth Salvi beat Ekka Aniket to secure eight points to finish runner-up and Reuben Colaco outsmarted Aryan Raikar to finish third with 7.5 points.
The tournament supported by the Shanbhag Family Trust, saw an impressive turnout of 156 players competing fiercely for the coveted rolling trophy.
Participants battled through intense rounds, demonstrating their dedication to the game of chess. A total of 68 trophies were awarded across various categories, adding an extra layer of excitement to the event.
Chief guest Sukant Shanbhag graced the event and shared words of encouragement and inspiration for the chess enthusiasts. Guest of honour Deputy Sarpanch Vasant Naik and senior journalist Bernad Velho of Vasco were also present among the other dignitaries.
MTCA President Kishor Bandekar, Treasurers Mukund Kambli and Pundalik Naik, Tournament Director Prashant Raikar, Mukesh Adhia, Deepak Gawas and Anil Patil, played pivotal roles in ensuring the success of the tournament.
Chief Arbiter Swapnil Hoble and Deputy Chief Arbiter Tanishq Kavlekar maintained the highest standards of fairness and accuracy, contributing to the smooth conduct of the competition.
The top 20 players are: Mandar Lad, Paarth Salvi, Colaco Reuben, Joshua Telles, Anish Naik, Chaitanya Gaonkar, Ganpule Utkarsh, Ekka Aniket, Rishikesh Parab, Ayush Naik, Vasant Naik, Datta Kambli, Hriday Morajkar, Adarsh Patekar, Shaurya Agrasani, Aryan Raikar, Skyla Rodrigues, Shriya Patil, Vedant Angle and Vihaan Tari.
Age Category: U-7 Boys – Prayank Gaonkar, Evan Telles. Girls – Drisha Ghonge, Aaradhya Dessai. U-9 Boys – Rishit Gawas, Shresth Ghonsekar. Girls – Tvisha Dessai, Muriel Fernandes. U-11 Boys – Sachit Pai, Aarush Salgaonkar. Girls – Tanisha Dessai, Aarna Sawant. U-13 Boys – Avnish Borker, Varad Nagvekar. Girls – Riddhi Gaude, Maizah Sayyed. U-15 Boys – Sahil Prasad Naik, Ruthvik Raikar. Girls – Shree Ghonsekar, Mahdiya Sayyed. Best Veteran – Bhimappa Harijan. Best Women – Taniya Tari. Best Unrated – Ved Naik.
MTCA prizes: U-7 Boys – Rishab Gawas, Ansh Gawas. Girls – Aahana Singh, Ahi Fadte. U-9 Boys – Tanush Rane, Ravinsh Kamat. Girls – Survi Keloskar, Shanvi Redkar. U-11 Boys – Erwin Albuquerque, Vipul Kadam. Girls – Lavanya Naik, Torres Dazzle. U-13 Boys – Chaitanya Patil, Paras Powar. Girls – Pavitra Lingsugur, Sanika Naik. U-15 Boys – Anarv Singh, Paul Debjyoti. Girls – Rachana Kewat, Shreya Gaunkar Dessai. Best St Theresa players – Anvi Parab, Yashashvi Kadam, Chandirka Raichurkar. Youngest Player – Deepansh Varak.
The late Venkatesh and Sumathi Shanbhag chess tournament is a platform for nurturing chess talent in the region, fostering a sense of camaraderie among players and enthusiasts alike.
