Mandar Pradip Lad emerged the champion at the
Rotary All Goa Open Rapid Chess Tournament 2025 jointly organised by Rotary Club of Margao, Government College of Commerce and Economics, Borda, and Salcete Taluka Chess Association; under the aegis of Goa Chess Association at Borda-Margao.
In the final round, Mandar Pradip Lad (Bardez) (2166) beat Chaitanya Gaonkar (Bicholim) (1899) to emerge the champion with 8 points and remained unbeaten throughout the tournament. He was awarded a cash prize of Rs. 7000 and trophy. Anish Naik (Ponda) (1818) managed to outwit Aryan Shamrao Raikar (Salcete) (1753) in the final round and finished second with 7 points. He was awarded a cash prize of Rs. 5000 and trophy. Shubh Vishnu Borkar (Salcete) (1649) got the better of Arthav Shirodker (Mormugoa) (1622) in the last round and finished third with 7 points. He was awarded a cash prize of Rs. 2500 and trophy. Rishikesh Parab (Mormugoa) (1795) defeated Mayuresh Laxlabh Desai (Sattari) (1745) and finished 4th with 7 points. He was awarded a cash prize of Rs. 1500 and trophy. Chaitanya Gaonkar finished 5th with 6.5 points and was awarded a cash prize of Rs. 1000 and trophy.
The 6th to 20th prize-winners are as follows: Paarth P Salvi, Atharv Katkar, Shane Alvarin Braganca, Rajveer Patil, Aryan Shamrao Raikar, Mayuresh Laxlabh Desai, Sachit Pai, Phal Satyam, Aaryavrat Rasiket Naik Desai, Israa Rikarty, Sameer, Adarsh Anand Patekar, Aashman Adhiraj Naik Desai, Ayush Sanjeev Naik, and Avnish Borker.
The tournament witnessed a total participation of 213 players including 78 rated players.
Dilip Naik, President of Rotary Club of Margao, was the chief guest and gave away the prizes. Ashesh Keni, Secretary, Goa Chess Association, Damodar Zambulikar, Vice-President, Goa Chess Association, Tukaram Shetye, Joint-Secretary, Goa Chess Association, Dilip Vernekar, Treasurer, Salcete Taluka Chess Association, Prithviraj Katkar, Joint Secretary, Salcete Taluka Chess Association, and Vasant Kakodkar, member of Rotary Club of Margao; Jostna Saripalli, Asha Shirodkar, Nilesh Shirodkar, Executive Committee Members, were also present.
Following are the category prize-winners:
Best U15 Boys: 1st: Chaitanya Sushant Patil, 2nd: Aarav Chopdekar. Girls: Saeeja Gunesh Dessai, Jennica Sequeira. U13: Nagesh Nayak, Arthav Shirodker; Asmi Amit Terse, Lavanya Naik. U11: Shaurya N Prabhu Agrasani, Nityam Gaude; Skyla Rodrigues, Diya Naik. U9: Joash Cardozo, Yuven Santosh Mandrekar; Drisha Ghonge, Shaurvi Kankonkar. U7: Nirbhay Gaude, Dwennon Jake Viegas; Yajwari Tukaram Shetye, Sanvi Pradeep Naik. Best Veteran Player (Above 50 years) – Ambrosio Santana Vaz. Best Woman Player (Above 15 years) – Arya Dabholkar.
