Prayank Gaonkar of Salcete Taluka CA and Drisha Ghonge of Mormugao Taluka CA respectively, won the All-Goa (Open & Girls) State U-7 Chess Championship cum Selection tourney 2023 conducted by Salcete Taluka Chess Association under the aegis of Goa Chess Association.
Prayank Gaonkar defeated overnight leader Evan Antonio Telles in the 6th and final round to become the champion with an unbeaten score of 5.5 points. Drisha Ghonge defeated Vania Dukle to emerge champion in the Girls category by scoring an score of 5 points with an unbeaten record. Both category winners were awarded a cash prize of Rs. 1500 and a trophy each.
Evan Antonio Telles stood second in the Open category while Vania Dukle was the Runner-up in the Girls category. Both were awarded a cash prize of Rs. 1000 and a trophy.
The 3rd to 6th-placed are as follows- Open category: Narayan alias Aarav Prabhu Dessai (3rd), Sarthak G Naik (4th), Ronel Fernandes(5th), and Skyler Fernandes (6th); Girls category (3rd to 6th position): Shanaya Desai (3rd), Trisha Patekar (4th), Sanvi Desai (5th), and Sidonia Lourdes Dacunhna (6th).
Deu Mangoakar, Police Sub-Inspector of Goa Police, was the chief guest and gave away the prizes in the presence of Ashesh Keni, Secretary, Goa Chess Association, Damodar Zambaulikar, Vice-President, STCA, and Dilip Vernekar, Treasurer, STCA. FA Ashesh Keni was the chief arbiter. He was assisted by FA Jyotsna Saripalli, FA Asha Shirodkar and NA Ridikesh Vernekar.
The top two players from each category will be representing Goa in the National U-7 Chess Championship to be held in Kolkata, West Bengal from 21st to 25th September 2023.
