The Department of Physical Education and Sports at St Joseph Vaz College, Cortalim, successfully organized a thrilling Intramural Chess Tournament from 11th to 14th July 2025. The four-day event, held in the college hall under the motto “Outsmart, Outplay, Outlast” culminated in an exciting finish with Prajakta Prabhu Gaunker being crowned champion after a tie-breaker match against Raj Singh.

Tournament Overview
The round-robin format saw intense competition across nine rounds, with players battling for supremacy in rapid chess matches. After the preliminary rounds, Prajakta and Raj emerged tied at the top with 8 wins each from 9 matches, setting the stage for a dramatic playoff. The tie-breaker match was a tense affair, with Prajakta eventually outmaneuvering Raj in a 45-move endgame to claim the championship title.

Top Performers
1. Champion: Prajakta Prabhu Gaunker

• Dominated the tournament with 8/9 wins
• Only loss came against Vignesh in Round 2
• Demonstrated exceptional endgame skills in the decisive tie-breaker

2. Runner-up: Raj Singh

• Matched Prajakta’s 8-win record
• Notable victory over Abhishek in Round 3
• Showed remarkable resilience throughout

3. Third Place: Vignesh

• Finished strong with 7 wins
• Scored the tournament's biggest upset by defeating Prajakta

Tournament Highlights

• Round 2: Vignesh’s stunning victory over Prajakta was the tournament’s biggest upset
• Round 5: Raj’s brilliant queen sacrifice against Suraj drew applause from spectators
• Round 7: Vidhita’s clutch draw against Varad kept her in contention for top spots
• Final Round: Prajakta’s flawless victory over Neeraj forced the championship tie-breaker

Special Recognitions

• Most Improved Player: Suraj Rathod (5 wins) showed significant progress
• Sportsmanship Award: Vidhita Chari for her gracious conduct
• Tactical Brilliance: Abhishek Thakur for creative gameplay

Conclusion
The tournament successfully identified and nurtured chess talent within the college. The championship tie-breaker between Prajakta and Raj provided a fitting climax to four days of intense competition. Based on this performance, Prajakta, Raj and Vignesh will receive special training to represent the college in upcoming inter-collegiate event.