MARGAO: Mandar Lad (2245) of Bardez is in joint lead with Rishikesh Parab (1672) of Mormugoa and Aaryavat Naik Desai (1517) of Canacona with 4.5 points each, at the end of the 5th round at 3rd day close of the all-Goa State selection for National Senior (Open) Fide Rating Chess Championship, organised by Goa Chess Association, at the Government College of Commerce & Economics at St Joaquim Road, Borda-Margao. The top 4 will be selected to represent Goa at the Nationals, at Haryana, from August 17 to 27.
In the 5th round Mandar Lad managed to outwit young child prodigy Joshua Telles. Rishikesh Parab drew with Devesh Naik and Aaryavat upset Chaitanya Gaonkar.
On 4 points in joint 2nd position are Datta Kambli, Devesh Naik, WCM Gunjal Chopdekar, Shubh Borkar, Kanishk Sawant, Saish Fondekar, Erwin Albuquerque, Jennica Sequeira, Aayush Shirodkar, Rajveer Patil, Saras Powar and AFM Edrick Vaz.
The tournament has attracted 110 players.