Hopefield Prep master the board

Glenry Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator

Hopefield Prep 'A' scored a perfect 18 points from 18 games to secure their first hold on the National Primary and Prep Schools' Chess Championship, which concluded on Friday at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel

Thirty teams from 16 schools islandwide participated in this year's championship.

Members of the winning Hopefield team include national Under-10 champion, Elias Issa, national Under-10 girls' champion, Rachel Miller, and Justin Lowe.

"This extraordinary increase in the number of students and schools participating in the tournament demonstrates the continuing interest in the game of chess," noted Adrian Palmer, tournament director.

Second place

Second place went to Sts Peter and Paul, who scored 13 points, while newcomers Emmanuel Christian Academy claimed third with 11.5.

Category prize winners included: Best Rural Team - Portmore Missionary; Best New Teams - St Jago Prep and Emmanuel Christian Academy; Best Female team - St Theresa Prep (A Team). Elias Issa was the best Board One Player, Rachel Miller the best Board Two Player and Justin Lowe was the best Board Three player.

Senna Summerbell of Hillel Prep and Brandon Freeman of Mona Prep also scored six points from six games on Board One.

The championship, which was organised by the Chess Enterprise Chess Club under the auspices of the Jamaica Chess Federation, was sponsored by The Jamaica Pegasus hotel and Chess Enterprise.