MARGAO
Niraj Saripalli won the Rotary-BPS-STCA All India Open Rapid FIDE Rating Chess Tournament 2022.
Niraj (2069) of Salcete taluka got the better of Sharsha Backer (2002) of Kerala in the final round to win the tournament conducted at BPS Sports Club premises, Pajifond, Margao. He bagged a cash prize of Rs 15,000 and a trophy.
The second prize of Rs 7,000 was bagged by Mandar Pradip Lad (1656) who beat Chander Raju (1834) of Kerala who stood sixth. Jake Shanty of Kerala beat Datta Kambli of Mormugao to claim the third prize of Rs 5,000 and a trophy. Sharsha Backer finished fourth. The fifth prize was bagged by Sairudra Nagvekar (1484) of Bardez taluka, who beat Ayush Pednekar (1589) in the final round. Anirudh Bhat beat Edrick Vaz to finish seventh.
189 players from various parts of India participated in the tournament, out of which 85 were rated players. The total prize money for the tournament was Rs 10,0000. FA Ashesh Keni was the chief arbiter along with Avinash Malvanker (FA), Jostna Sariapalli (FA) and Asha Shirodkar (FA). The tournament was organised by Rotary Club of Margao in association with BPS Sports Club and Salcete Taluka Chess Association.
The chief guest for the prize distribution ceremony was IM Bhakti Kulkarni, who was nominated for the Arjuna award recently. She gave away the prizes in the presence of Deep Karapurkar, President Rotary Club of Margao, Santosh George, President, BPS Sports Club, Ashesh Keni, President Salcete Taluka Chess Association (STCA), Sachin Arolkar, Convenor, Goa Chess Ad-hoc Committee, Sunil Ballikar, Secretary STCA, Dilip Verneker, Treasurer STCA, Damodar Zambaulikar, Vice-President, STCA, sponsors and others.
