PANAJI
Anish Naik emerged as the winner of the Ponda Taluka-level Open Rapid Chess Tournament, organized by the Ponda Friends Circle Sports & Cultural Club (PFC) in collaboration with the Ponda Taluka Chess Association (PTCA). The event took place at Shree Nakteshwar Hall in Ponda.
The prize distribution ceremony was graced by Chief Guest Shri. Ravi Naik, Hon. Minister for Agriculture, Govt. of Goa, along with Mr. Ritesh Naik, Ex-Chairperson of Ponda Municipal Council, Narayan Bhamaikar, President of PFC, Vishnu Naik, Secretary of PFC, Sadashiv Pandit, Treasurer of PFC, Sagar Sakordekar, President of PTCA, and Sudhakar Patgar, the Chief Arbiter.
Avnish Borker secured second place, while Siddhiraj Gaunkar took the third spot.
The players finishing in the 4th to 15th positions included Raghvendra Gupta, Samarth Borker, Swayam Bambolkar, Riddhi Gaude, Sopan Desai, Prathamesh Shirodkar, Arush Naik, Kaushik Pednekar, Vithal Pai, Mayank Kurtikar, Nagesh Nayak, and Anvay Borkar.
Several special awards were given, including: Best U-15 Boy: Supreet Priolkar; Best U-15 Girl: Saanvi Gaude; Best U-13 Boy: Vivaan Verenkar; Best U-13 Girl: Bhakti Pikle; Best U-11 Boy: Nityam Gaude; Best U-11 Girl: Aarya Kamat Helekar; Best U-9 Boy: Siaan Kerkar; Best U-9 Girl: Amaira Borkar; Best U-7 Boy: Nirbhay Gaude; Youngest Player: Neesh Mulvi; Best Above 40: Yogesh Dalvi
The success of the tournament was also made possible by the support of Milind Gaude (Assistant Arbiter), Govind Desai (Ex-President, PFC), Dilip Mangaonkar, Mahadev Hallemani, Mahesh Mangeshkar, Rajan Kolvekar, Mujib Mulla, Ajay Vernekar, Noor Shaikh, Ajay Patil, Wilson Cruz, Pankaj Chavan, Anand Kurtikar, Sandesh Naik, Anirudh Borkar, and Ganraj Nayak.
