IM Anurag Mhamal, Ritviz Parab and CM Nitish Belurkar represent the Goan challenge in the open category while WIM Ivana Furtado represents the lone Goan challenge in the girls category.
IM Anurag Mhamal (rating 2442) was engaged in an interesting duel with Manigandan SS (rating 2099) also of India in an open Catalan opening before agreeing for a draw after 35 moves.
Ritviz Parab (rating 2205) lost to GM Vidit Gujrathi in an interesting duel in the Accelerated dragon Grand Prix sicialian variation while CM Nitish Belurkar (rating 2046) lost to IM Cabarkapa Novak of Serbia (rating 2379) in an Advance French Defence Variation after a pulsating battle.
In all, 138 players in the open category and 78 players in the girls category are participating.
The highest rated player in open category is GM Fedoseev Vladimir of Russia (rating 2661) and in girls category, also Russian WGM Goryachkina Aleksandra (rating 2430).
Fourth seed GM Vidit Gujrathi in the open category and sixth seed WGM Padmini Rout in the girls category are the top rated Indian players.
