Thu | Jul 23, 2026

Junior chess champs heading for close finish

Published:Saturday | April 9, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Woman Candidate Master Margoe Williams (foreground) takes a closer look at her position in her round one-game against Jonathan Orgill, which she won to claim one of her two points. - Contributed

After three rounds of play, the 2011 Burger King National Junior Chess Championships is poised for an exciting finish this weekend at the Half-Way-Tree Entertainment Centre.

Four players are tied in the lead on two points. They include Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Margoe Williams, Miguel Asher of Wolmer's Boys, Glenmuir High's Andrew Ellis and Calabar High's Shreyas Smith.

Pre-tournament favourite Hakim Buchanan faltered at round two last Sunday, losing to Smith and has only managed to secure one point so far in the championship. Also on one point are Laurence Davey and Ardenne High's Jonathan Orgill and Damani Reid.

With the last four rounds scheduled for today and tomorrow, all eight entrants have lost at least one game and all have secured at least one point, which has left pundits unable to identify a probable winner.

top-of-the-table clash

In round four scheduled for this morning, co-leaders Smith and WCM Williams will meet in the top-of-the-table clash, in a game which will pit Williams' greater experience against Smith's youthful exuberance and significant prep work.

Other games scheduled to take place this morning include Ellis versus Buchanan, Davey versus Orgill and Reid versus Asher.