Aniket Ekka of Naval School won the Independence Day Cup chess tournament, Mormugao Taluka open organised by Mormugao Taluka Chess Association (under the aegis of Goa Chess association) at Chicalim Sports Complex, Vasco on 15th August 2023.
The tournament was conducted under the Swiss league system with 6 rounds. In all, 78 players participated out of which 20 were rated players. In the final round, Aniket drew with top seed Dr. Brendan Peroz to score 5.5 from 6 rounds to remain unbeaten and to clinch the title. Brendan also remained on 5.5 points and had to settle for the second place. Earlier in the penultimate round, Dr. Brendan was better in tie break score and considering this advantage he welcomed the draw offer from Aniket Ekka but to his disappointment the tie break scores levelled and the winner had to be decided over the toss thus Aniket Ekka was declared the winner.
Yash Paul finished in the third spot. The top 3 winners were awarded with trophies and cash prizes. The 4th-placed to 10th players are as follows: Fadte Rudresh, Asmita Ray, Gawas Rishit, Piyush Narvekar, Utkarsh Ganpule, Ved Naik, Kiran Chopdekar.
Category prizes were also awarded to the following winners – U7: Rishabh Gawas, Drisha Ghonge, Skyler Fernandes, Saanvi Desai, U-9 :Shresth Ghonsekar, Shanvi Redkar, Ravinsh Kamat, Aqsa Nadaf, U 11: Aarush Salgaonkar, Lavanya Naik, Vipul Kadam, Aarna Sawant, U-13:Sidh Rane, Sayyed Maizah, Pawar Paras Pankesh, Pavitra Lingsugur, U15(female): Sayyed Mahdiya, Best Veteran:Rajendra Naik, Youngest player Aarav Nagueshkar, Best Patriotic dress code wear :Tanisha Jamane.
Narayan Pai, Kishor Bandekar (MTCA President), Achut Naik (Sponsor), Mukund Kambli (Secretary MTCA), Pundalik Nayak (Treasurer MTCA), Swapnil Hoble (Chief arbiter), Sachindra Naik (Arbiter), graced the prize distribution ceremony.
Nicely written article.. thanks!