Tag: Goa Chess Association

Sports

International Master Nitish Belurkar Clinches Durga Motors Rapid Chess Tournament 2026

Tanisha Cardozo

Nitish Belurkar emerged victorious at the Durga Motors Rapid Rated Chess Tournament–2026, organised by the Rotary Club of Porvorim at Dr KB Hedgewar High School in Bambolim. The two-day event concluded on Sunday with participation from 260 players, making it one of the largest rapid-rated chess tournaments held in Goa.

Belurkar delivered an outstanding performance, scoring 8.5 points across nine rounds and remaining undefeated throughout the tournament. His consistent play secured him the overall championship title.

The second position was claimed by Niraj Saripalli, who also scored 8 points but finished ahead on superior tie-break scores. Ritviz Parab secured the third position with 8 points.

The annual tournament was organised in association with the Tiswadi Taluka Chess Association and the Goa Chess Association. A total cash prize pool of ₹2.5 lakh was distributed across open and age-group categories.

In addition to the main prizes, winners were recognised in Under-7, Under-9, Under-11, Under-13, and Under-15 categories for both boys and girls. Veteran players aged above 45 years were also felicitated. To encourage emerging talent, cash prizes were awarded to the top five unrated players.

The prize distribution ceremony was attended by Prateek Sapra, owner of Durga Motors and title sponsor, Dr Pramod Dubale, co-sponsor, Harsh Thakkar, President of Rotary Club of Porvorim, and Ashesh Keni, Secretary of Goa State Chess Association. The tournament proceedings were conducted by Chief Arbiter Umesh Naik.

Speaking at the event, Harsh Thakkar stated that the Rotary Club of Porvorim continues to organise the tournament annually with the objective of promoting chess across Goa and nurturing young talent in the sport.

With increasing participation numbers each year, the tournament reflects the growing popularity of chess in Goa and the strengthening of the state’s competitive chess ecosystem.

Sports

Shaunak Badole & WCM Deekshitha Modipalli Crowned Champions at 38th National U-13 Chess Championship in Margao

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Margao, Goa: The 38th National Under-13 Chess Championship 2025 concluded in grand style at Daivadnya Bhavan, Margao, with Maharashtra’s Shaunak Badole and Telangana’s WCM Deekshitha Modipalli crowned champions in the Open and Girls’ categories, respectively.

Badole (Elo 2086) outplayed Kerala’s Arush A (2105) in the final round to secure the Open crown with an unbeaten score of 10 points. He received a trophy and ₹80,000. Karnataka’s Siddhanth Poonja (2215) and CM Madhvendra Pratap Sharma (2187) of Madhya Pradesh claimed second and third positions. Maharashtra’s Siddhant Salunke and Gujarat’s Shubh Atha completed the top five.

In the Girls’ section, WCM Deekshitha (1934) drew with Gujarat’s Arpita Patankar to clinch the title with 9.5 points. She too received a trophy and ₹80,000. Maharashtra’s Mysha Perwez (9 points) finished second, while West Bengal’s Maitreyi Mondal (8.5 points) secured third place. Andhra Pradesh’s WCM Aamuktha Guntaka and Sravyasree Bheemarasetty rounded off the top five.

Goa’s best performances came from Joshua Mark Telles (38th, 7.5 points) in the Open and Asmi Amit Terse (38th, 7 points) in the Girls’ event.

The tournament saw a record 597 participants from across India, making it one of the largest in the championship’s history. The closing ceremony was graced by Chief Guest Minister for Public Works Digambar Kamat, who released the tournament souvenir. The event also saw the presence of All India Chess Federation’s Ajit Verma and officials from the Goa Chess Association.

The championship not only showcased the exceptional talent of India’s young chess prodigies but also reaffirmed Margao’s growing reputation as a host city for national-level sporting events.

Sports

Goa’s Evan Telles Crowned National U-7 Chess Champion

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7-year-old prodigy makes history, earns spot to represent India at the World U-7 Chess Championship

MARGAO / KHORDHA, June 2025 — In a stunning feat of strategy and composure beyond his years, Evan Telles, a 7-year-old from Goa, has emerged as the National U-7 Open Chess Champion at the 38th National U-7 Chess Championship held at KT Global School, Barunei Temple Road, Khordha, Odisha.

Representing the Salcete Taluka Chess Association, Evan secured a phenomenal 8.5 points out of 9 rounds, defeating several top-seeded players, including a crucial win over tournament favorite Thumati Sreyansh in the eighth round. He capped his championship run with a final-round victory against Vaibhav Vishnu of Bihar, clinching gold outright.

Evan, a Grade 2 student at Manovikas School, Margao, has now earned the honor of representing India at the upcoming World U-7 Chess Championship, making him one of the youngest Goans to compete on the world stage in recent memory.

“Evan is a chess prodigy and we are confident he will rise to even greater heights,” said Ashesh Keni, Secretary of the Goa Chess Association. “After analyzing his games in the State Championship, we knew he had the potential to become a national champion.”

Goa Chess Association President Mahesh Candolkar hailed Evan’s victory as a proud moment for the state, especially after Goa clinched the silver in the same event last year. The win places Goa ahead of traditional chess powerhouses like Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra in this category.

Evan is the son of Dr. Jean Telles and has been training under Coach Prakash Singh and his team at Chess Guru Chess Academy. His disciplined preparation, combined with strong parental and institutional support, has been instrumental in his development.

Members of the Goa Chess Association Executive Committee and the Salcete Taluka Chess Association expressed collective joy at the win, calling it a “golden moment” for Goan chess.

In the Girls U-7 category, Aradhya Desai of Goa gave a commendable performance, securing the 16th place among tough national competition—an encouraging result that signals more talent on the rise from the state.

With this national title under his belt, Evan Telles now sets his sights on the World U-7 Chess Championship later this year, where he will carry not just the hopes of Goa, but of the entire nation.

“This is just the beginning,” said his coach. “The world stage awaits.”