Yash Upadhye wins Category C



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SLUG: Late Manohar Parrikar 3rd Goa International Open Grandmaster Chess

PANAJI

Yash Manoj Upadhye (FIDE Rating 1696, Goa) emerged as the champion in Category C of the Late Shri Manohar Parrikar 3rd Goa International Open Grandmaster Chess Tournament 2025, scoring an outstanding 9 points.

Joshua Mark Telles (FIDE Rating 1692, Goa), a promising U11 player, secured 2nd place with 8 points, while Joy Kakodkar (FIDE Rating 1681, Goa) claimed 3rd place with the same score. Rudresh Fadte (FIDE Rating 1637, Goa) finished 4th, also with 8 points.

The tournament which concluded at the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium, Taleigao, on Sunday, was organized by the Goa Chess Association under the aegis of the All India Chess Federation (AICF).

The top 4 prize winners were awarded cash prizes of ₹1.35 lakhs, ₹1.05 lakhs, ₹90,000, ₹80,000 respectively from a total Category C prize purse of ₹13 lakhs, distributed among top performers in an event that underscored Goa’s growing stature as a hub for chess excellence.

The grand prize distribution ceremony was graced by Union Minister of State Shripad Naik, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Govind Gaude, AICF Treasurer Dharmendra Kumar, and Goa Chess Association officials, including President Mahesh Candolkar, Secretary Ashesh Keni, Treasurer Vishwas Pilankar, and Vice President Arvind Mhamal, among others.

Goa’s Strong Showing in Category C

Anish Naik (20th), Chaitanya Sushant Patil (24th), Atharva Sawal (25th), Aniket Ekka (27th), Saiesh Audi (28th), Saeeja Gunesh Dessai (42nd), and Soham Naik (49th), were the other Goan players in the top 50, showcasing the depth of talent among Goan players.

Top 15 Standings list

Yash Manoj Upadhye (1696, Goa) (9 points); Joshua Mark Telles (1692, Goa, U11) (8 points); Joy Kakodkar (1681, Goa) (8 points); Rudresh Fadte (1637, Goa) (8 points); Aarav Arpit Shah (1630, Gujarat, U13) (8 points); Vansh Rasik Gala (1619, Maharashtra) (8 points); Prakhar Raj (1571, Haryana) (8 points); Shivam Jitendra Pethkar (1605, Maharashtra, U15) (7.5 points); Gaurav Sharma (1690, Delhi) (7.5 points); Ayya Ayush Umesh (1678, Maharashtra) (7.5 points); Ronit Motwani (1481, Maharashtra, U15) (7.5 points); Aditya Koli (1658, Maharashtra) (7.5 points); Pratik Lalit Tambi (1617, Maharashtra, U13) (7.5 points); Pratish Raj (1628, West Bengal) (7.5 points); Aleksandr Rakhmatullin (Russia) (7.5 points)

Special Prizes for Goan Players

Best Goan Player: Aarth Siddhesh Shenvi Karapurkar (1st), Raposo Maxwell (2nd), and Chopdekar Aarav (3rd); Best Female Player: Sanvi Naik Gaonkar (2nd).

Age Categories: U15 Girls: Vaishnavi Vijay Parab (1st), Shrivalli Sanjay Gandhi (2nd); U13 Boys: Atharva Atul Borkar (2nd); U13 Girls: AFM Diya Digamber Sawal (1st), Tanisha Uday Naik Dessai (2nd); U11 Girls: Skyla Rodrigues (1st), Avani Sawaikar (3rd); U09 Girls: Dukle Vania Vaibhav (1st), Dacunha Sidonia (2nd), Amaira Borkar (3rd)