PANAJI
Siddhiraj Gaunkar emerged champion at the Ponda Taluka Level Open Rapid Chess Tournament, organised by the Ponda Friends Circle Sports & Cultural Club (PFC) in association with the Ponda Taluka Chess Association (PTCA), and held at Shree Nakteshwar Hall, Ponda.
Sathvik Kerkar finished as the runner-up, while Suyash Pai secured third place. Riddhi Gaude, Rutik Gaude, Yoguesh Dalvi, Anvay Borkar, Ganesh Velingkar, Neevaan Mandlekar, Kaushal Naik, Harish Govekar, Ishan Paramshetti, Samruddh Borker, Chetan Kurtikar and Aarya Helekar placed from fourth to fifteenth respectively.
The special prize winners were: Best U-15 Boy “ Dhruveen Naik; Best U-15 Girl “ Aastha Nayak; Best U-13 Boy “ Samarth Gaonkar; Best U-13 Girl “ Saumyaa Raikar; Best U-11 Boy “ Nityam Gaude; Best U-11 Girl “ Ditya Lotlikar; Best U-9 Boy “ Vihaan Sahakari; Best U-9 Girl “ Amaira Borkar; Best U-7 Boy “ Nirbhay Gaude; Best U-7 Girl “ Eeshwari Upadhye; Youngest Player “ Yashwin Gaude; Best Above 40 “ Datta Naik.
The prize distribution ceremony was held in the presence of Chief Guest Shri Mithil Sudin Dhavlikar, along with Dilip Mangaonkar (President, PFC), Jeetendra Naik (Secretary, PFC), Sadashiv Pandit (Treasurer, PFC), Amogh Namshiker (Secretary, PTCA) and Chief Arbiter Arvind Mhamal.
The programme was compered by Jitendra Naik, prize winners were announced by Amogh Namshiker, and the vote of thanks was delivered by Vishnu Naik. Milind Gaude (Assistant Arbiter), along with Govind Desai, Mahesh Khedekar, Pankaj Chavan, Mahadev Hallemani, Mahesh Mangeshkar, Mujib Mulla, Ajay Vernekar and Narayan Bhamaikar, extended their support in ensuring the smooth and successful conduct of the tournament.
