Harper slips in New India chess

CHRISTO CAVE began his quest to recapture the Trinidad and Tobago Chess Championship, which he relinquished last year, with two comprehensive victories as action in the New India Assurance National Chess Championships began last weekend.

At the Conference Room of the Student Activity Centre, the University of the West Indies, St Augustine, National Master Cave defeated FIDE Master Frank Yee on Saturday and Lenard Duncan on Sunday to lead his other 11 challengers in the Men’s Division. Holding down the runner-up spot in the round-robin event is Cecil Lee, who whipped Kirby Hope on Saturday but drew his encounter against Joffrey Marcelle 24 hours later. Defending champion FIDE Master Ryan Harper was held to two draws against National Master John Raphael and Jerome Joseph while Ravishen Singh, who grabbed a silver medal at the 2002 World Olympiad in Slovenia, trounced Joseph in his first battle. But Singh’s joy turned to sorrow on Sunday when he went under to the veteran Mario Merritt.

Youngsters are atop the standings in the women’s category with St James Secondary student Aditi Soondarsingh leading with 1.5 points from her two matches while 2002 queen Desire Derrick of Woodbrook Secondary trails with one point from one encounter, while reigning champ Cesar Ramos was victorious in his two opening round matches in the Veterans division, with Carl Jacobs and Colin Knight trailing. Matches will be contested this weekend at the UWI venue from 3 pm each day.