15-year-old slays FIDE Master to win St Jago Chess Open
FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD CANDIDATE Master Joshua Christie reigned supreme at the St Jago Chess Open tournament last weekend.
Christie, a St Jago High fourth former, won the 2017 title with a perfect score of six points from six rounds of competition.
The 2017 edition of the St Jago Chess Open tournament was sponsored by National Commercial Bank which has been on board with the internationally-rated tournament for the fourth consecutive year. The competition was hosted at the St Jago High School.
Fresh from a scintillating performance at the Central American and Caribbean Youth Chess Championships in Panama last month, where the Jamaican team placed third, Christie dispatched all his opponents with authority, including FIDE Master and many-time National Champion Damion Davy.
In the intermediate section, Odane Lodge, playing in his first ever tournament, surprised the field to win with six points from six rounds.
FULL RESULTS:
St. Jago Chess Open winner: Joshua Christie six points; second place Malik Curriah (the 2016 St. Jago Chess Open winner) 4.5 points and third Raheem Glaves 4.5 points. Best female was Melisha Smith.
St Jago Chess Intermediate winner: Odane Lodge, second was Remone Johnson while Martin Shamir was third.
Prep and Primary boys:. Khatray Cato 4.5 points. 2. Kofi Sutherland 4 points. 3. Aaron McKoy 4 points.
Prep and Primary girls: 1. Laila Griffiths 4 points. 2. Ariele McKoy 3.5 points. Laila Griffiths, winner of the girls’ prep and primary title, collects her NCB-sponsored medal from NM Mikhail Solomon at the St Jago Chess Open tournament last weekend.
3. Jordyn Garriques.
The best Under-8 boy was Aaron McKoy, while Jordyn Garriques was the top Under-8 girl.
Best Under-10 girl was Lalia Griffiths, while Javier Grant was the best Under-10 boy.
Khatray Cato topped the Under-12 boys and Jeshana Vincent was the best Under-12 girl.