La Fleur leads Atwell’s defence of Primary schools chess title

The First Citizens Primary Schools Chess Championship will be held at the University of Trinidad and Tobago, Valsayn Campus.

La Fleur, who played unbeaten in Jamaica, scoring four wins and three draws, will play with the same team from last year. La Fleur’s team members are Osinachi Obinya, Desailly Bastien-Cowan and Khadell Campbell.

La Fleur’s brother Juninho, who scored four wins in Jamaica, will lead the new Atwell’s Chess Club team, which will include Josh Koo, Anthony Plummer and Dijoun Joseph.

Coach Bhisham Soondarsingh is confident that his team will retain the First Citizens challenge trophy.

However, a strong challenge will come from former threetime champions Grant Memorial Presbyterian School (GMPS), who scored a hattrick from 2013 to 2015. Grant Memorial will be led by Athena Martin, daughter of GMPS coach David Martin, and national boys Under-12 champion Keegan Ragoobar.

Maria Regina Grade School have won the title the most, scoring a beaver-trick from 2009 to 2012.

A strong contender looking to land the prestigious title for the first time, is San Fernando TML Primary School with TT’s youngest candidate master Rayden Rampersad.

Rampersad won the gold medal in the boys Under-10 sub-category at the Carifta tournament. TML will also have in their line-up the talented Ramoutar twin sisters, Anahita and Ariana.

Some of the other schools expected to compete are Rock River RC, Basseterre RC, El Dorado North Hindu School and St Ursula’s Girls Anglican School.