PANAJI
International Master Ritviz Parab of Salcete emerged champion of the 5th Late Venkatesh & Sumathi Shanbhag Memorial All India FIDE Rapid Rating Chess Rolling Trophy Tournament 2026, held at St Theresa School, Mangor Hill, Vasco, recently.
Organised under the aegis of the All India Chess Federation, the tournament attracted 356 players from across the country. After nine rounds officiated by Chief Arbiter IA Sanjay Kavlekar, Parab clinched the title ahead of Shri Santu Mondal of Delhi, while Mandar Lad of Bardez secured third place.
Grandmaster Saptarshi Roy Chowdhury finished fourth, followed by Joshua Telles in fifth place. Players finishing from sixth to 20th included Kavish Gharse, Saras Powar, Mani Bharathy, Balkrishna Pednekar, Abhishek Patil, Nandakumar Sulikeri, Dmitry Bezstrakhov, Nadar Thangraj, Rajveer Patil, Ivan Dias, Aryan Raikar, Arthav Shirodkar, Divam Arya, Adarsh Patekar and Varad Naik.
In the rating categories, Rejmon Fernandes topped the 1400-1599 bracket, while Rishit Gawas secured first place in the 1600-1799 category. Sanika Shyamrao Naik won the unrated category, Padmanand Menon was adjudged Best Veteran and Shreya Daingade claimed the Best Woman (Above 18) award.
Centenary Chess Academy, Vasco, received the Best Academy Award for maximum participation. To promote grassroots chess, organisers distributed 60 trophies across Under-7 to Under-15 boys’ and girls’ categories.
Sponsored by the Venkatesh Shanbhag Charitable Trust, the tournament featured a prize pool of Rs 1.25 lakh along with 94 trophies.
