Three Goans finished in the top 10 to create history in the National Under 9
Chess Championships which concluded at Bangalore.
Mohanan Harikrishnan (ELO 1730) was the pick of the lot. He finished fourth
in the Boys' section after beating M. Karthikeyan of Tamil Nadu.
Harikrishnan will consider himself unlucky not to finish in the top 3 as he
had a brilliant tournament and won accolades from one and all for his
sterling display.
World Under 8 Girls Champion Ivana Furtado finished 5th after beating
statemate Gauri Hadkonkar in the last round. Ivana has one more year in the
Under 9 section and we expect her to finish much higher in the next year's
edition of this same tournament.
Perhaps the greatest revalation was young Riya Sawant who finished 8th in
the Girls section. Riya is still eligible for the Under 7 Nationals which
get underway later this month in Lucknow. GSCA President Sameer A. Salgaocar
flew down to Bangalore for the Prize Distribution ceremony and congratulated
the successful Goan players in person.
SOURCE: Sameer Salgaocar - President, GSCA
