Rising chess star Rampersad honoured at Divali Nagar

San Fernando TML Primary student Rayden Rampersad was recognised for his achievements in chess at the Divali Nagar in Chaguanas, on Sunday.

The National Council of Indian Culture (NCIC) gave Rampersad an award during the grand finals of the NCIC Divali Nagar Youth Champ contest held on Sunday.

Ten-year-old Rampersad, who captains his school’s chess team, was honoured for his success in 2017 which came locally and internationally. He led San Fernando TML to the 2017 National Primary School Team Chess Championships title and won the boys Under-12 category at the TT Open Masters Tournament in August.

In April of this year, he also won gold in the Under-10 category at the Carifta Chess Championship in Jamaica. Rampersad became the youngest chess world title holder of Candidate Master in the English-speaking Caribbean at age eight and the youngest FIDE (World Chess Federation)-rated player in TT at age seven.

The NCIC strives to preserve and promote the Indian culture in all Indian diaspora countries, as such the council said it takes pride in celebrating the achievements of Trinidad and Tobago citizens.