Cave, Soondarsingh win New India national chess

Christo Cave and Aditi Soondarsingh have emerged winners of the Trinidad and Tobago Chess Association (TTCA) National Chess Championships sponsored by New India Assurance Company Limited. Cave who has won 13 national crowns in the last 15 years, was awarded the Prime Minister’s Challenge Trophy from Srinivasan Gopalan, managing-director of New India Assurance. He scored a winning nine points against eleven other top competitors. Last year Cave won the championships with full points but this year he faced much tougher opposition.

He suffered a third round loss to Michael Pouchet and was held to draws by Fide Master Mario Merritt and Frank Yee. Second place went to Merritt who earned seven and a half points. Cave, Merritt and Jeoffrey Marcelle along with three other players with the highest performance ratings from the tournaments over the past year are automatic selections to represent this country in the upcoming World Chess Olympiad to be held in Spain in October later this year. The women’s competition was also keenly contested as Desire Derrick, the defending champion was de-throned by Soondarsingh who emerged with top honours ahead of six other comeptitors. Soondarsingh clinched victory in only the last round when she got past Arlene Blackman. Soondarsingh, Blackman and Chantel Fitzpatrick along with a reserve are automatic selections to represent this country in the upcoming World Chess Olympiad.

RESULTS
Men’s Championships
Winner — Christo Cave - 9pts.
Runner-up —  Mario Merrit - 7.5pts.
Third  place —  Jeoffrey Marcelle - 7 pts.
Women’s Championships
Winner — Aditi Soondarsingh - 5 pts.
Runner-up —  Chantel Fitzpatrick - 4pts.
Third place —  Arlene Blackman - 4 pts.