Mandar Pradip Lad, IM Chakravarthi Reddy M and Gopal Rathod moved into joint-lead at the Unity Club 4th All India Open FIDE Rapid Rating Chess Tournament 2026.
The highly-anticipated Unity Club 4th All India Open Fide Rapid Rating Chess Tournament 2026 kicked off in spectacular fashion with local boy Mandar Pradip Lad, IM Chakravarthi Reddy M and Gopal Rathod being in joint-lead with 6 points each after Day 1.
The tournament witnessed intense competition across the boards. In the 6th round IM Chakravarthi Reddy M (2147) of Telangana triumphed over Saras Summer Powar (1905) from Salcete, Goa on the top board in a hard-fought encounter.
On the second board, Gopal Rathod (1937) of Maharashtra outwitted WCM Akshaya Sathi (1604) from Karnataka. On the third board, Joshua Mark Telles (2038) from Salcete managed to outwit Anvita Sathi (1606) of Karnataka.
Top seed and IM designate Mandar Pradip Lad (2206) of Goa got the better of CM Samarth J Rao (1778) a specially-abled player of Karnataka. On the 4th board Kavish Gharse (1686)drew with AIM Achinthya Bhat (1674) .On the 5th board CM Niraj Saripalli (2006) of Salcete ,Goa drew with Aiden Jesus Savio Grao (1647).A total of 321 players participated out of which 171 are rated players.
The tournament was inaugurated by Chief Guest, Gabriel Fernandes, Sarpanch of Nagoa Village Panchayat. The ceremony was graced by Ashesh Keni, Secretary of Goa Chess Association, and Damodar Zambulikar, Vice President of Goa Chess Association Pradeep Gaonkar, President of Unity Club, Yogesh Naik, Secretary of Unity Club, Prashant Naik, Treasurer of Unity Club. The tournament is being conducted by Unity Chess Club in association with Salcete Taluka Chess Association under the auspices of Goa Chess Association and All India Chess Federation.
With a prize pool of Rs. 2,00,000 and 85 trophies up for grabs, the tournament promises thrilling chess action in the coming days.
