NT Reporter
Sancoale
Mandar Lad emerged champion of the Rising India School of Excellence & Chirrags Group All Goa Open Rapid Chess Tournament 2026 after remaining unbeaten through nine rounds at Sancoale.
Mandar secured the title and a cash prize of Rs 10,000 with a series of consistent performances.
Shub Borkar finished runner-up with 7.5 points, while Paarth Salvi claimed third place with seven points. Vivaan Ballikar, Rishikesh Parab, Satyam Phal, Vihaan Tari, Aaryavrat Naik Dessai and Aryan Raikar were among the players to finish in the top-20 standings.
In the age-category prizes, Avnish Borkar and Neevan Mandlekar won the Under-15 boys’ section, while Anvi Dessai and Sayuri Prabhu Nasnodkar topped the girls’ category. Arthav Shirodkar and Rhys Carvalho secured the Under-13 boys’ honours, with Aaradhya Sawant and Khayvalvizhi Kamesh winning the girls’ titles.
Kavin Kamesh and Urmish Deusekar claimed the Under-11 boys’ prizes, while Aadhya Mesta and Shinel Rodrigues emerged winners among girls. Veer Manerikar and Joash Cardozo topped the Under-9 boys’ section as Shreesha Ghadi and Amaira Borkar finished first in the girls’ category. Ivaan Pednekar and Ojas Kamat secured the Under-7 boys’ honours, while Sreeja Ghanekar and Paaviya Naik won the girls’ titles.
Vidhi Naik was adjudged Best Unrated Player, Prashant Salvi won the Best Veteran Above-50 award and Avni Kamat secured the Best Female Player Above 15 years prize.
