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PANAJI
Niraj Saripalli won Kamlakant Parab memorial all-Goa open rapid chess tournament organised by Vardambika Kala Sangh in association with Ponda Taluka Chess Association (PTCA) at Ameya HSS hall, Curti-Ponda. Gunjal Chopdekar emerged runner-up, while Anirudh Parsekar finished third.
Gaurav Madkaikar, Sachin Kakodkar, Saish Fondekar, Datta Kambli, Anant Prabhudesai, Ishan Pagi, Swayam Naik, Sachin Gaude, Sudhakar Patgar, Yash Upadhye, Tanvi Hadkonkar, Sairaj Vernekar, Milind Gauns, Anurag Adwalpalkar, Kaushik Khedekar, Devesh Naik and Vraj Porob, made the cut for the top-20 positions.
Arvind Mhamal was the Chief Arbiter of the tournament, in which 170 players took part. Sarah Gayle Fernandes was named the best ‘Woman' player of the tournament, while Shivani Sutar was the best ‘Unrated' player. Top five players from Ponda taluka were Raghvendra Gupta, Gaurav Naik, Akhil Naik, Anish Naik and Shivank Kuncolienkar.
Age-category prizes were awarded as follows: Best U-13 players - Aayush Shirodkar, Vinayak Thevar; U-11 - Paarth Salvi, Pratik Borkar; U-9 - Vivaan Ballikar, Srilaxmi Kamat; U-7 - Vrujesh Hande, Atharva Sawal.
Dr Ketan Bhatikar was the chief guest and gave away the prizes in presence of Vinayak Gaonkar (President, Vardambika Kala Sangh), Amogh Namshiker (President, PTCA), Anand Kurtiker (Secretary, PTCA), Mahesh Khedekar (Treasurer, PTCA), Sagar Sakordekar (Founder President, PTCA), Sarita Parab (social worker) and Avdhut Kamat (co-ordinator). Vatan Kuncolienkar, Pramod Kamat, Savita Naik and Jayashree Madkaikar took active part in conducting the tournament.
