Clockwise from L: GM Sindarov Zavokhir, FM Nitish Belurkar and Ritviz Parab.
Photo Credits: The Goan Everyday
PANAJI
Teen Grandmaster from Uzbekistan, Sindarov Zavokhir was crowned champion in the Liberation Cup International Open Online Chess Championship 2020, organised by Queens Chess and Cultural Club.
Goa has proved to be a lucky turf for the 15-year-old Zavokhir who had annexed the title in Category A of Manohar Parrikar International Open Grandmaster Online Chess Tournament 2020 earlier in the year. Zavokhir scored 9.50 points in 11 rounds to win the title.
Meanwhile, the Category E winner of the Parrikar Open, FM Nitish Belurkar of Goa was top among the Goan players at the Liberation Cup, scoring 8 points and was placed 11th. Ritviz Parab of Goa was placed 12th, also with 8 points.
IM Aronyak Ghosh from West Bengal with 9 points and IM Dhulapala Bhalchandra from Andhra Pradesh with 8.5 points were placed on second and third respectively.
Other Goan players to win prizes are Ethan Vaz and Tejas R Shet Vernekar (1st and 2nd – Rating between 1000-1400), Reuben Colaco, Sairaj Vernekar and Sahil Shetty (1st, 2nd and 3rd, Rating between 1401-1700), Devesh Anand Naik (2nd, Rating between 1701-2000), Saras Powar (1st – Under 8 boys), Diya Sawal, Liya Silveira and Rochel Pereira (1st, 2nd and 3rd – Under 8 girls), Vaishnavi Parab (1st – Under 10 Girls), Vivaan Ballikar, Joy Kakodkar (1st and 2nd – Under 12 Boys), Srilaxmi Kamat and Alana Andrade (1st and 2nd Under 12 Girls), Paarth Salvi (Under 15 Boys), Tanvi Hadkonkar and Gunjal Chopdekar (1st and 2nd – Under 15 Girls), Cera Dagaria (1st) and Sayuri Naik (3rd, Best Women), Pradip Kulkarni (2nd, Best Veteran), Ameya Audi, Utkarsh Ganpule and Anirudh Parsekar (1st, 2nd and 3rd – Best Goan).