New champs in scholastic chess

Four new champions were anointed in the Under-11 and Under-17 division over the weekend at Harrison College, in the Scholastics Open Chess Championship. Dozens of boys and girls competed over two days of play, in preparation for the upcoming Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Youth Chess Championships.

Jeremiah Farley won the U11 division, scoring an impressive five and a half points from his six matches, to finish a half-point ahead of the second-place finisher Charis Stuart.

Farley had struck the lead alone by the end of the first day, amassing the maximum of three points. Sitting in joint second, half a point behind, were Stuart and Ethan Alleyne. Based on their play, it was certain that the eventual winner would come from one of this trio.

On day two, Farley defeated Alleyne in Round 4 to maintain his lead, drew with Stuart in Round 5, and won his Round 6 game against Raef Clarke to clinch victory. Stuart placed a commendable second with five points, while Alleyne settled for third with four and a half points.

Aaron Tash finished fourth on three and a half points, while several players finished on three points in the middle of the field, including Clarke, Dominic Cadogan, Theon Miller, and Liam Neil. The girls played with the boys due to under subscription, but Kalan Lovell was crowned girls champion after battling to two and a half points in a competitive overall field.

Noah Clarke won the U17 section with three points from his four games. His elder brother Loki was second, while Leshay Springer won the girls U17.

Farley will be part of the team which heads off to El Salvador for CAC competition this week. He will be joined by Raef Clarke, Chaz Reifer-Belle, Darren Toppin, Aaron Jaikaran, Nathan Griffith, and Noah Clarke.

Recently returned from a strong showing at the Pan American Under-16 Championships, Hannah Wilson will also feature, along with Daisha-Rose Parris, Janiyah Browne, Sameera Jaikaran, Jaeda Herbert, Mileke Sinckler, Naomi Lewis, and Chanon Reifer-Belle.

The players will be representing Barbados in 12 age categories, from Under-8 to Under-18 open and female.

(PR/TF)