Harper claims chess hat-trick

Harper has now won the tournament organised by the Trinidad and Tobago Chess Association for the third consecutive year taking his tally to four wins in six years. The former QRC student’s first win came in 2002.

He held off challenges from FM Mario Merritt and FM Christo Cave to emphasise his status as one of the best players locally. Harper, a Republic Bank employee easily defeated Cave on Saturday despite his opponent not adopting his familiar “French Defence.”

On Sunday, Harper defeated his fellow QRC Old Boy Merritt in a key encounter. Merritt had to win as a draw would give Harper the title on the tie-break Sonneborn-Berger system. Merritt seemed to have gained the upper hand but Harper remained steady and was able to promote a pawn to the seventh rank before Merritt’s pawn, resulting in an exchange of a Rook for a Bishop which cost him the tournament.

Harper, a member of Paladins chess club is now the third person to have scored a hat-trick after Fred Sabga and Christo Cave. Harper (9.5), Merritt (8.5) and Cave (8.0) received tickets to represent TT at the 2008 World Chess Olympiad to be held in Dresden, Germany.

In the RBTT women’s national finals, Aditi Soondarsingh successfully defended her title with impressive victories over her rivals. The reigning junior champion defeated Renuka Ramdass, Javanna Smith and Melissa Pereira to retain her crown and has took her tally to three after first claiming the crown at the age of 15 in 2004.

The game between Pereira and Soondarsingh failed to live up to its much hyped expectation as the reigning champ disposed of her opponent quickly.

The other match between Lyndy-Ann Guiseppi and Camille Chung was won by Chung leaving it up to the tie-breaker which favoured Soondarsingh.

Men’s Standings: 1. Ryan Harper 9.5; 2. Mario Merritt 8.5; 3. Christo Cave 8.0; 4. Ravishen Singh 7.5; 5. Frank Yee 6.0; 6. Edison Chang 5.5; 7. Kishore Ramadhar 5.0; 8. Frank Sears 4.5; 9. Guelmo Rosales 4.0; 10. Cecil Lee 4.0; 11. Joseph Gill 2.0; 12. Hayden lee 1.0.

Women’s Standings: 1. Aditi Soondarsingh 7.0; 2. Melissa Pereira 7.0; 3. Lyndy-Ann Guiseppi 6.0; 4. Stephanie Hosang 6.0; 5. Renuka Ramdass 5.5; 6. Javanna Smith 5.0; 7. Camille Chung 4.5; 8. Kelle John 2.0; 9. Samantha Seechanran 1.0; 10. Fiona Yu 1.0.