Ethan Vaz wins Monginis Rapid Rating Open 2023
FM Ethan Vaz and IM Sammed Shete scored 8/9 each at Monginis Rapid Rating Open 2023. Ethan won the tournament due to better tie-breaks, Sammed was placed second. IM Vikramaditya Kulkarni and IM Bhakti Kulkarni scored 7.5/9 each. They secured third and fourth place respectively. Ethan defeated both of them. Only Sammed remained undefeated among the top ten finishers. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹200000. The top three prizes were ₹35000, ₹25000 and ₹15000 along with a trophy each respectively. This is Ethan's first-ever Open Rating tournament triumph. Ethan was supposed to play World Cadets Under-12 Open 2023 in Egypt. However, he had to change his plans as the Indian contingent pulled out of the event, due to security concerns over the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict.
Ethan's first Open Rating tournament triumph
IM Vikramaditya Kulkarni and IM Sammed Shete were the coleaders 7.5/8 heading into the final round. Vikramaditya lost to FM Ethan Vaz and FM Jeet Jain held Sammed to a draw. Thus, Ethaan became champion, Sammed second and Vikramaditya third. Former Asian Continental Women's champion, IM Bhakti Kulkarni secured fourth place after defeating her state Goa's latest IM - Ritviz Parab.
A total of 170 players including four IMs took part from various places all over the country in this two-day nine round Rapid Rating Open tournament. It was organized by Salcete Taluka Chess Association, Margao Cricket Club, Margao and Rotary Club of Margao at Krishna V S Karwarkar Hall, MCC Club in Margao, Goa on 14th and 15th October 2023. The time control of the event was 25 minutes + 5 seconds increment per move.
Final standings
| Rk. | SNo | Name | Typ | sex | Gr | FED | Rtg | Club/City | Pts. | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 | TB4 | TB5 | ||
| 1 | 5 | FM | Vaz Ethan | U13 | Goa_U13 | IND | 2147 | Goa_Salcete | 8 | 55 | 58 | 50,00 | 0 | 8 | ||
| 2 | 2 | IM | Sammed Jaykumar Shete | IND | 2269 | Maharashtra | 8 | 54,5 | 59,5 | 52,25 | 0 | 7 | ||||
| 3 | 3 | IM | Kulkarni Vikramaditya | IND | 2175 | Maharastra | 7,5 | 53,5 | 56,5 | 44,50 | 0 | 7 | ||||
| 4 | 1 | IM | Kulkarni Bhakti | S15 | w | IND | 2282 | Goa_Salcete | 7,5 | 48,5 | 51,5 | 40,00 | 0 | 7 | ||
| 5 | 9 | Devesh Anand Naik | IND | 1725 | Goa_Ponda | 7 | 52,5 | 56,5 | 41,00 | 0 | 7 | |||||
| 6 | 13 | Kherdekar Arnav | IND | 1575 | Maharastra | 7 | 50,5 | 54,5 | 38,50 | 0 | 7 | |||||
| 7 | 15 | Vivaan Sunil Ballikar | U15 | Goa_U15 | IND | 1538 | Goa_Salcete | 7 | 50 | 55 | 40,50 | 0 | 7 | |||
| 8 | 6 | FM | Jeet Jain | IND | 2108 | Gujarat | 7 | 49,5 | 53,5 | 39,25 | 0 | 6 | ||||
| 9 | 18 | Aryan Shamrao Raikar | IND | 1445 | Goa_Salcete | 7 | 46,5 | 48 | 34,50 | 0 | 7 | |||||
| 10 | 16 | Shirodkar Aayush | IND | 1519 | Goa_Salcete | 7 | 46 | 49 | 35,00 | 0 | 7 | |||||
| 11 | 38 | Tejas R Shet Verenkar | IND | 1220 | Goa_Salcete | 7 | 43,5 | 45,5 | 33,00 | 0 | 7 | |||||
| 12 | 7 | CM | Niraj Saripalli | IND | 1970 | Goa_Salcete | 6,5 | 52 | 56 | 38,25 | 0 | 6 | ||||
| 13 | 4 | FM | Ritviz Parab | IND | 2174 | Goa_Salcete | 6,5 | 50,5 | 54 | 36,25 | 0 | 6 | ||||
| 14 | 23 | Anish Naik | IND | 1388 | Goa_Ponda | 6,5 | 50 | 54 | 35,75 | 0 | 6 | |||||
| 15 | 8 | Colaco Reuben | IND | 1835 | Goa_Salcete | 6,5 | 46 | 49 | 33,75 | 0 | 6 |
