PANAJI
Mandar Pradip Lad delivered a dominant and unbeaten performance to clinch the title at the 3rd Unity Club Blitz Chess Tournament 2026, finishing with an impressive 9 points.
Facing IM Chakravarthi Reddy M on the top board in the nal round, Lad held his nerve to secure victory and seal the championship. His consistent run throughout the tournament earned him the winner’s trophy along with a cash prize of ₹5,500.
The battle for the remaining podium spots was equally competitive. On Board 2, CM Niraj Saripalli showcased sharp tactical play to defeat Vihaan Tari, finishing second with 8 points and taking home ₹4,500. Close behind, Joshua Mark Telles emerged third after overcoming Saras Summer Powar in the final round, also ending with 8 points and receiving ₹3,500.
The tournament witnessed strong participation and competitive spirit across boards, with players such as Aarush Bhat, Chakravarthi Reddy M, Saras Summer Powar, and Aryan Shamrao Raikar featuring among the top 20 finishers.
In the age-category events, several young talents made their mark. Nayak Nagesh topped the U-15 section, while Lyia Marysil Silveira secured first place in the Girls U-15 category. Rhys Dominic Carvalho and Terse Asmi Amit emerged winners in the U13 Open and Girls sections respectively. Deusekar Urmish (U-11 Open) and Baretto Paloma Maisie (Girls U-11) also impressed with their performances. Among the youngest participants, Aarav Nagueshkar (U-9 Open) and Rao Shivanya (Girls U-9), along with Pednekar Ivaan Alkesh (U-7 Open) and Walke Yashasvi (Girls U-7), claimed top honours in their respective categories.
Special category prizes saw Bhaskar Brahma named the best veteran player (S40), while Gawas Sani won the top prize among women players above 15 years.
The event concluded with a grand prize distribution ceremony attended by dignitaries including Kabir Shirgaonkar, Director of IT, Electronics & Communication, Government of Goa, along with officials from the Goa Chess Association and Unity Club. Organized by Unity Chess Club in association with the Salcete Taluka Chess Association under the aegis of the Goa Chess Association and the All India Chess Federation, the tournament distributed a total prize pool of ₹30,000 and 35 trophies.
