Ramsumair, La Fleur crowned Trinidad and Tobago chess champions

AFTER two weekends of intense competition, Daenon Ramsumair was crowned champion of the National Junior Chess Championships Under-20 Absolute division.

At the Preysal Secondary School, Ramsumair topped the field by holding off late surges from eventual silver medallist Kelon Braithwaite and bronze receiver Chandresh Prabhakar. Rounding off the top five finishers were Tristan Lackhai and Kiran Mohammed respectively.

In the Under-20 female division, 2020 Player of the Year Zara La Fleur emerged victorious trailed by second place Aradhana Ramnarine Singh and third ranked Vandina Maharaj. La Fleur also placed first in the Under-16 female by holding off Akineece Charles (runner-up) and Ruth Beepath-Bynoe (third).

Meanwhile Sean Yearwood was crowned champion of the Under-18 Absolute followed by Matthew Inkim and Zidane Boodoo respectively. In the women’s equivalent, Shemilah James and Anusha Saha were inseparable to the end.

Both captured top honours while Keira Samuel Bisnath settled for third overall.

Other honourable mentions saw Alan-Safar Ramoutar capture the junior and senior male player of the year 2020.

In the Return to Board Open, Ramoutar won gold ahead of runner-up Marcus Joseph. Tied for third were Ryan Harper and Joshua Johnson.

Additionally, in the International Women’s Day Online Rapid tournament, Gabriella Johnson received top honours followed by Shemilah James and La Fleur respectively.

The chess association thanked main sponsors First Citizens for their support and the Ministry of Health for granting approval to hold the event amid the pandemic. The fraternity also recognised Minister of Sport and Community Development Shamfa Cudjoe, Director of Sport Gabre Mc Tair and sport’s ministry liaison officer Delisa Blizzard.

A small award ceremony was held at the venue, on Monday, in recognition of this year’s winners.

Other Results:

U8 Absolute – 1. Adrian Allum; 2. Spencer George; 3. Ethan Ramnarine Singh

Under 8 Female – 1. Ne'yah Martin

Under 10 Absolute – 1. Kyan Muradali; 2. Dominic Allum; 3. Daniel Bhim

Under 10 Female – 1. Adaya Johnson; 2. Jahzara Grant

Under 12 Absolute – 1. Zachary Murray; 2. Kael Samuel Bisnath; 3. Tristan Balliram and Taydan Balliram (tied)

Under 12 Female – 1. Vandina Maharaj; 2. Anasuriya Seeram Maharaj; 3. Kaitlyn Rampersad

Under 14 Absolute – 1. Chandresh Prabhakar and Juninho La Fleur (tied); 3. Joshua Medina and Luke Balliram (tied)

Under 14 Female – 1. Aradhana Ramnarine Singh; 2. Kavira Singh; 3. N’kechi Joseph

Under 16 Absolute – 1. Keagan Ragoobar; 2. Sheldon Yearwood; 3. Kiran Mohammed