Fifteen-year old Elton Joseph from C. R. Walker High School turned in a perfect score of six wins out of six games to capture Family Guardian's Annual Scholastic Chess Tournament, held at S.C. McPherson High School on March 28.
In the largest chess event ever held in the Bahamas, Elton Jospeh of C. R. Walker captured the overall winners trophy.
Pictured are: L-R: Mr. Gino Miller, Staff Manager, Family Guardian Insurance Co. Ltd.; fifteen-year old Elton Joseph, Overall and under 16 Champion; Mr. Thierry Boeuf, President of the Bahamas Chess Federation; Mr. Warren Seymour, BCF Tournament Director.
Organised by the Bahamas Chess Federation, the 11th Annual Scholastic tournament was the largest ever chess event held in the Bahamas, according to Federation tournament director Mr. Warren Seymour.
Fourteen schools drew in more than 117 students to compete as individuals for six age division trophies.
"Elton Joseph was the only player to score a perfect six which is an outstanding achievement in the largest field we've ever had," said Seymour. "It should be one of his proudest moments in his rising chess career."
Family Guardian Insurance's Staff Manager, Mr Gino Miller, presented two trophies to Elton Joseph: Winner of the Under 16's and Overall Winner of the tournament.
In other age divisions winners were: For the Under 8 division: Travis Obregon, Queen's College; Under 10: Renaldo Cartwright, South Haven Christian Academy; Under 12: Levardo Rolle, Cleveland Eneas Primary; Under 14: Lemaro Thompson, Kingsway Academy; and Over 16's: Trevor Lockhart, C. C. Sweeting Senior High School.
118 students from more than 14 schools competed in age divisions. Queen's College, St Andrews and South Haven Christian Academy were among schools that fielded large teams for the first time.
"We're very impressed with large the turnout. We thank Family Guardian for their support and to the chess teachers at the schools," said Seymour. "Our usual schools brought the expected numbers and, in particular, we had stronger-than-usual showings from Queen's College, St Andrew's and South Haven Christian Academy."
"South Haven has made a great effort to give their students access to chess training and now they have a champion in Renaldo Cartwright for the Under 10's," said Seymour. "We're very happy to see teams emerging from Queen's College and St. Andrew's. All three of these shcools could be in the future a major force in chess."
"One exciting new-comer was Travis Obregon from Queen's College. He lost one of his early rounds but showed great determination to win the later games and went on to win his division. This was the first tournament he's ever played. Which goes to show: that you don't know how good you are until you enter," said Seymour.
Chess Federation President Thierry Boeuf says the Federation's newly-elected officers have a mandate to more actively promote chess in schools and with the public in general. "The schools are the bedrock of chess in the Bahamas and we're trying to do more to help cultivate serious learning there. In this era of TV and electronic games, chess is a healthier, more beneficial pursuit that is much more impressive on a young person's resum�," said Mr. Boeuf.
"We owe a debt of thanks to those teachers and school adminstrators that donate their time and facilities for the chess students," said Mr. Boeuf. "We thank Family Guardian for their donation which will also go towards our Chess-In-Schools Training Program."
The federation's next scholastic tournament is the School Teams Championship, scheduled for June 28 when even Out Island schools are expected to send teams to Nassau. In the School Teams event schools will enter one or several teams of four players each. The four member team that scores the highest number of points wins the championship. The federation will require players to record their games on score sheets enabling a Brilliancy Prize to be awarded for the best game of the tournament.
On April 5th and 9th, the federation is holding the April Quads Tournaments where players of similar strength play in a 'Quads': four player round-robins where players can move up or down in an on-going league contest. According to tournament director Warren Seymour, the new Quad format rewards improvement gained through hard study and enables students to 'climb the league ladder' as their skill increases.
Federation President Thierry Boeuf says plans are being made to start 'serious school training' for those stronger, committed players who display talent and desire to achieve excellence. The federation holds regular Saturday chess clinics for beginners and students on Saturday at 1 p.m. Parents, schools and teachers can contact the Bahamas Chess Federation at 324-2062 or 325-6210.
