Bishop’s girl shocks boy chessists

BISHOP ANSTEY teenager Desire Derrick has shocked her male counterparts  in snatching the runner-up spot in this year’s National Gas Company-sponsored National Junior Chess Championship organised by the Trinidad and Tobago Chess Association. And the 18-year-old Derrick was beaten out of a share of the title only by the clock in her match with Rhett Akong, ending the series with six points. Imran Hosein, following in the footsteps of previous Fatima College student winners Sean Perryman and Allan Munro won the seven-round Swiss tournament, which was contested at the YMCA, Port-of-Spain. Making a big impact  at the tournament was eight-year-old Arima Boys RC student Keron Cabralis, who battled his way to 10th among the 67 players. For the first time, a ranking system was introduced after the tournament with champ Hosein being ranked No 1 with Derrick holding the no 2 spot and Kifano Thomas, No 3.

And Aditi Soondarsingh, a 15-year-old St James Government Secondary student was the second girl in the top 10 of the rankings with a No 7 rank, ahead of  brother Dev, 16, who is ranked No 12. Malini Srinivasan, 14, of St Joseph’s Convent, Port of Spain is ranked No 11. Fatima took the boys team title while Bishop Anstey were the girls winners.

Honour Roll
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP —- 1. Imran Hosein (Fatima); 2. Desire Derrick (Bishop Anstey); 3. Kifano Thomas (St Anthony’s).
GIRLS DIVISION —- 1. Desire Derrick; 2. Aditi Soondarsingh (St James Gov Sec; 3. Malini Srinivasan (St Joseph’s Conv.).
UNDER-20 —- 1. Hosein; 2. Derrick; 3. Thomas.
UNDER-16 —-  1. Thomas; 2. Marcus Joseph (Fatima); 3. Aditi Soondarsingh.
UNDER-14 —- 1. Malini Srinivasan; 2. Steffon Boodoo (Holy Cross); 3. Jonathon Morgan (Trinity - East).
UNDER-12 —- 1. Justin Salloum (St Mary’s); 2. Christopher Raphael (St Monica’s); 3. Bjorn Ramroop ((Pres, Chaguanas).
UNDER 10 —- 1. Cabralis; 2. Adriel Jones (Christian Primary Academy); 3. Sinead Furlong (St Andrews).
8 AND UNDER —- 1. Cabralis; 2. Vandoff Smith (Holy Name); 3. Siobian Furlong (St Andrews).
The rankings: 1. Imran Hosein; 2. Desire Derrick; 3. Kifano Thomas; 4. Rhjett Akong; 5. Garvin Perry; 6. Marcus Joseph; 7. Aditi Soondarsingh; 8. Thomas Walker; 9. Justin Salloum; 10. Keron Cabralis; 11. Malini Srinivasan; 12. Dev Soondarsingh; 13. Christopher Raphael; 14. Steffon Boodoo; 15. Jonathan Morgan; 16. John Cesar; 17.  Akil Audain ; 18. Margaret Thairu; 19. Mark Chickoree; 20. Bjorn Ramroop; 21. Adrian Mitchell; 22. Arvin Seecharan; 23. Sade Khan; 24. Craig Richard; 25. Rajiv Singh; 26. Andrew Palmer; 27. Ray Romany; 28. Adriel Jones; 29. Sinead Furlong; 30. Sanjay Ramtahal; 31. Matthew Pierre; 32. Vandoff Smith; 33. Prithvi Ramakrishna; 34. Santosh Srinivasan; 35. Oba Wright; 36. Omar Michael; 37. Omar Samara; 38. Issa Baishder; 39. Alpacino Smith; 40. Avinash Jagasar; 41. Stephanie Peters; 42. Akin Williams; 43. Justin Ramoo; 44. Spenser Clayman; 45. Christopher Pemberton; 46. Anshuman Saran-Persad; 47. Tenyse Wells; 48. Johan Thairu; 49. Sioban Furlong; 50 Camille Wilson; 51. Nicholas Paul; 52. Petra Rampersad; 53. Safiya Holder; 54. Prasanna Ramakrishna; 55. Lamont Andrew; 56. Kemba Peters; 57. Arianne Redhead; 58. Jonathan Celestin; 59. Shivan Ramdhanie; 60. Richard Eccles; 61. Omar Paul; 62. Jesse Dylal; 63. La Toya Crosby; 64. Sanjay Singh; 65. Avinda Bansee; 66. John Hall.