Girls top Rhand national chess

The two top age groups (Under-18, Under-16) categories were, for the first time won by female players.

Aditi Soondarsingh, the 2004 national women’s champion and joint second place last year, made history as the first female to win the National Under-18 competition.

Soondarsingh of St James Government Secondary scored four points in the five-round round-robin tournament.

In second place was southerner Jane Kennedy with 3.5 points who came ahead of St Anthony’s college player Adrian Mitchel, also 3.5 points, on the tie-break system. Newcomer Shailendra Seecharan of Hillview College finished fourth with two points .

National women’s champion Chantal Fitzpatrick of Providence Girls’ RC, proved that she is among the top juniors when she successfully defended her national Under-16 title.

Fitzpatrick, who also created history as the first female to win a national age group category, played unbeaten finishing on five points. In second place was St Mary’s college player Justin Salloum on four points. QRC’s Esan Wiltshire was third also on four points and fourth went to Ajari Jules on 3.5 points of Trinity College East.

New national Under-14 champion, St Mary’s College player Christopher Raphael played unbeaten drawing only one game against QRC’s Jayson Paul. However, his toughest match was against Fatima’s Joseph Gill who was unbeaten up to his final round against Raphael.

Gill placed second on four points ahead on the tie-break system of Presentation College, Chaguanas player Bjorn Ramroop. Jayson Paul on 3.5 points took the fourth spot.

Samantha Seecharan of Holy Name Convent (Port-of-Spain) is the new female National Under-14 champion. She is a member of the Central Vikings Chess Club Training Clinic in Chaguanas. In second place was Kimberly Salloum of St Joseph Convent (P-o-S). Renuka Ramdass from Bishop Ansley High (East) finished in third place.

Outstanding favourite in the Under-12 age group Keron Cabralis of Arima Boys’ RC did not disappoint in becoming the National Under-12 champion.

The former Under-10 champion played unbeaten for his 6.5 points drawing one match against St. Mary’s college player Rafael Guerrero. Leading chess primary school Holy Name Prep. (P-o-S) took the second, third and fourth places with Vandoff Smith (6 points), Jordan Nunes (5 points) and Aaron Bachew (5 points) respectively.

Winston Grant, chess teacher at Christian Academy Primary finally got his just reward when his player Melissa Pereira collected the female National Under-12 championship trophy.

Pereira scored an impressive five points. Yanna Lopez also from Christian Academy Primary finished a close second on 4.5 points.

The 29 players in the Under-12 category was the highest number of entries in the tournament.

Scoring full seven points was six- year-old Ronnie Nelson, the new National Under-10 champion.

The Arima Boys’ RC student intends to keep the chess flag flying high for some years to come.

The school, another leading chess institution has set a new record by taking both the Under-12 and Under-10 national titles in convincing style too.

Second place Javanna Smith, Holy Name Prep. (P-o-S) scored six points with Mikkel Wong of Christian Academy, on five points in third.

Akeenie Murray of Tunapuna Boys’ RC also made five points to finish in fourth place. Smith, is also the female National Under-10 Champion.

Principal Sister Stephenie’s decision to introduce chess in school must be commended and was rewarded by her students.

The National Youth Chess Championships is organised by the Trinidad and Tobago Chess Association (TTCA) and was once again sponsored by Rhand Credit Union.

Guelmo Rosales, TTCA third Vice-President with responsibility for Junior Chess was the tournament director.

He was assisted by PRO David Jones and Secretary Joffrey Marcelle, Bisham Ramroop and Kenneth Fitpatrick.