International Master Ameya Audi from Salcete, showed classic form as he scored 9 points from 9 rounds to win the All-India Venkatesh and Sumathi Shanbhagh memorial Open Rating tournament organised by MTCA under the aegis of Goa Chess Ad-hoc Committee at the St. Therese High School hall, Mangoor Hill Vasco, and played under Swiss league format.
In the crucial last round, Audi defeated Reuben Colaco to reign the throne and walk away with a cash prize of Rs 20,000 and the rolling trophy.
The tournament saw a record participation of 316 players with 6 foreign players also being in the fray.
Lad Mandar finished runner-up after he beat CM Gopal K.N.(Union Bank of India) to score 8 points. IM Nitish Belurkar beat FM Sauravh Khherdekar (Maharashtra) also scored 8 points but had to settle for the 3rd position due to the tie break scores.
Reuben Colaco finished fourth with 7.5 points. Grand Master R R Laxman (ICF) from Tamil Nadu who finished 5th, seemed to be a bit out of form as he was held by Goan stars ACM. Srilaxmi Kamat, Reuben Colaco and AFM Vasant Naik in the 3rd, 6th and 7th round accordingly.
FM Deshpande Aniruddha (Mah), IM Bala Subramaniam (TN), Sauravh Khherdekar, AFM Vasant Naik, FM Matta Vinay Kumar finished from 6th -10th.
The 11th -20th placings are as follows: Harisuya Gundepudi (Andhra Pradesh), CM. Sohan Datar (Mah),CM Gopal K.N.,Konathan Snehil (AP), Anirudha Parsekar, Parth Salvi, Devesh Anand Naik, Datta Kambli, Kochrekar Vishwesh (Mah), Bezstrakhov Dmitry(Russia).
Best open Boys and Girls – U-15: Ali Amanat, Mayuresh Desai, Asmita Ray, Srilaxmi Kamat, U-13: Ekka Aniket, Chaitanya Gaonkar, Rochel Pereira, Sayyed Maizah, U-11: Abhir Prabhu, Aarush Bhat(KAR), Jensina Sequeira, Diya Sawal, U-9: Aryavrat Desai, Sarvadnya Balgude(Mah), Skyla Rodrigues, Avni Savoiker, U-7: Prayank Gaonkar, Ayush Jagtap (KAR), Drisha Ghoge, Trisha Patekar. Best veteran: Ermolenko Vitaly (Rus), best women:-Niyati Gad. Best unrated:-Uday Pathak(UP). Best All Goa boys and Girls: U-15: Vivaan Ballikar, Sagar Shetty, Shree Ghonsekar,Alana Andrade U-13: Avnish Borkar, Aiden Rego, Jennica Sequeira, Saeeja Gunesh Dessai U-11: Rajveer Patil, Erwin Albuquerque, Tanisha Desai, Lyia Silveira U9: Joshua Telles, Vihaan Tari,Tvisha Dessai, Diya Naik. U-7: Sarthak Naik,Skyler Fernandes, Kavya Savoiker, Saanvi Desai. Best Mormugao Taluka: U-15: Atrey Satardekar, Ruthvik Raiker, Valanka Fernandes, Sayyed Mahdiya U-13: Chopdekar Aarav, Keith Albuquerque, Aarvi Naik, Pavitra Lingsugur, U-11: Rudra Nagarsekar, Daksh Redkar, Rupika Raiker, Aarna Sawant U-9: Gawas Rishit, Shresth Ghonsekar, Nadaf Aqsa, Shanvi Redkar U-7: Rishab Gawas. Best St. Thereses School: Sanika Naik and Megha Rathod. Bhimappa Harijan won the surprise prize in MTCA veteran category.
