Chess champ Harper wins $1,000 in south tournament

Harper is currently preparing to represent Trinidad and Tobago at the 37th World Chess Olympiad in Turin, Italy from May 20 to June 4.

He topped the field of 24 players with victories against Whelan Hall, Hayden Lee, Steve Maharaj, Guelmo Rosales and his fellow Olympiad team- mates Mario Merritt and Ravishen Singh.

Harper having dominated the first six rounds settled for a draw in the final round against Cecil Lee, captain of the 2006 Olympiad team, earning himself the first prize of $1,000.

FIDE Master Mario Merritt picked up the second prize of $600 with 5.5 points followed by Guelmo Rosales and Cecil Lee in third and fourth places with five points each earning cash prizes of $400 and $200 respectively.