Kumar crowned Blitz Chess champ
Candidate Master (CM) Manoj Kumar survived a stunning loss to Philip Sukhu of Marist Brothers High School and a draw with CM Goru Arvind to win the 2021 Brijlal Fiji sponsored National Blitz Chess Championship.
He amassed an unparalleled 10.5/12 to top a field of 46 players.
Nadi Chess champion Avinesh Nadan and National Champion CM Taione Sikivou finished second and third respectively with 10/12 on direct encounter, while CM Noel Adricula came fourth with a solid 9/12.
Yash Krishen Maharaj and CM Ronald Terubea took the fifth and sixth Open positions with 7/12.
“It was one of the most competitive blitz events ever in Fiji with several players coming all the way from the West,” said Fiji Chess Federation general secretary Goru Arvind.
“None of the top players achieved a perfect score and the overall winner was decided by just 1/2 a point.”
The women’s category was convincingly won by ex-Olympiad rep Women’s Candidate Master (WCM) Gloria Sukhu who had 8/12, while Cydel Terubea finished closely at second place with 7.5/12. Jacquelyn Masilomani came third with 7/12.
New players
In the secondary school’s category, Philip Sukhu of Marist Brothers High School won with a score of 8/12, while Rudr Prasad of Jai Narayan College finished second with 7.5/12. Lewis Koroi of Gospel High School came third with a close 7/12.
“We are happy and overwhelmed by the support we are receiving from new chess players in every tournament,” said Federation president Hilda Kunau.
“Our player base in the West of
Fiji has more than doubled within the last few months and more new players are messaging us on Facebook every now and then.
“The future of chess in Fiji looks exciting to say the least.”
The primary school’s category was won by the talented Arnav Lal of Deenbandhoo Memorial Primary School with 6/12 by virtue of tie-break over Mikel Fareed of Yat Sen Primary School who had an equivalent score. Frederick Hiroshi Kado bagged the Best Beginner’s Award for scoring 7/12 in his first-ever chess championship in Fiji while Philip Sukhu took the Best Upset Award for defeating the tournament winner with a surprise time-out victory in a losing position.
The next major tournament is expected to run at University of Fiji in March and details will be announced soon.