Ryan to make Fiji chess debut

RYAN Lyons will be making his international debut for Fiji when he competes during the 2023 Oceania Zonal Chess Championship in Melbourne, Australia this week.

Joining Lyons is his sister and Fiji’s top ranked women’s player Kieran, Fiji national champions Taione Sikivou and Tanvi Prasad, and Yash Maharaj.

Fiji Chess Federation general secretary Goru Arvind said Ryan was based in Australia and the game format used at the Oceania event suited him well.

“Ryan Lyons will be an interesting add to Fiji’s list of upcoming young players,” said Arvind. “He is more of a very patient, closed-format player who is suitable for the longer 90 minutes plus 30 second increment mode of chess that will be played in the Oceania Zonal.

“This is his first official outing under Fiji Chess Federation after successfully mentoring the women’s national team as a captain in the 44th World Chess Olympiad at Chennai, India in 2022.”

The 2023 Oceania Zonal Chess Championship features 253 Open players and 43 Women from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Nauru and Guam and brings together the best players from the region including Grand Masters (GMs), International Masters (IMs), FIDE Masters (FMs) and Candidate Masters (CMs).

“Fiji’s strongest female player from the Olympiads, Women’s FIDE Master (WFM) Kieran Lyons will also accompany her younger brother Ryan to compete in the 2023 Oceania Zonal Chess Championship,” Arvind said.

Meanwhile, Vodafone Fiji has geared up Sikivou Prasad as they finalise their travel plans to Melbourne.

“We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Vodafone Fiji and their team headed by head of recharge and distribution Nilesh Singh and manager public relations Fozia Muktar for their kind support towards our national reps,” said Arvind.

“Our players in the Oceania Zonal Chess Championship have Vodafone Fiji polo Tshirts and jackets to inspire them further and play well.”