PANJIM: Prayank Goakar of Salcete and Drisha Ghonge of Mormugoa won the All-Goa U-7 (open & girls) State Chess Championship cum Selection 2023, respectively, conducted by Salcete Taluka Chess Association under the aegis of Goa Chess Association.
Prayank Gaonkar defeated overnight leader Evan Antonio Telles in the final, 6th round to become the champion with an unbeaten score of 5.5 points while Drisha Ghonge defeated Vania Dukle to emerge champion in the girls category by scoring an unbeaten score of 5 points. Both of them were awarded, a cash prize of Rs 1,500, and a trophy. Evan Antonio Telles stood 2nd in the open category while Vania Dukle stood 2nd in the girls category. Both were awarded a cash prize of Rs 1,000 and a trophy.
Third to 6th position in the open category is as follows: Narayan alais Aarav Prabhu Dessai (3rd), Sarthak G Naik (4th), Ronel Fernandes (5th), and Skyler Fernandes (6th). In the girls category, Shanaya Desai (3rd), Trisha Patekar (4th), Sanvi Desai (5th), and Sidonia Lourdes Dacunhna (6th).
The top two players from each category will be representing Goa in the National U-07 Chess Championship to be held in Kolkata, West Bengal from September 21 to 25.