NATION NEWS
Farley gives pupil a chess lesson
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National Master Terry Farley stormed home to take the grand prize in the final round of the CGI National Chess Championships last week.

National Sports Council chess coach Farley made a house call to give his chess pupil Alex Jackman a lesson.

Jackman came out of the opening with a solid but cramped position and struggled to find active play.

When Farley's spacial advantage turned into a kingside attack, an oversight allowed Farley to win and wrap up his first national championship in fine style.

His victory was greeted by applause and handshakes and was clearly a job well done as he showed great focus and determination throughout.

Other games featured a tremendous upset as former national champ FM Delisle Warner crashed to Under-20 champ Wendell Meusa. Playing a French defence, exchange variation Meusa kept a cool head while Warner tried to drum up complications. Warner's king became displaced and he was forced to give up material to stave off defeat, however even this proved inadequate and a result was soon come. The clash of top juniors Martyn Del Castilho and Shamel Howell looked set to be a tactical melee after a pirc defence, Austrian attack variation appeared on the board. Peace broke out on move 23, however, and fans had to look elsewhere for their chess drama.

Queen's College schoolboy Justin Blackman produced a sparkling attack to claim the point against BCF president Dr Kumar Areti. After equalising in a Caro-Kann, Blackman was first to get in his attack in an opposite side castling game and never looked back. Veterans Othneil Harewood and Michael Barker clashed in a cole system opening and Harewood got active prospects to compensate for his isolated queen's pawn. Barker blockaded, however, and converted the point after Harewood later blundered a pawn.

There was no mercy in the third round of the women's national championship played at Harrison College on Wednesday. On the top board Juanita Garnett and Combermere schoolgirl Corinne Howard played a tight game before Howard overcame in a long hard-fought battle. Co leaders Melissa Sookhram and Cheri-Ann Parris were also victorious with Sookhram crushing Jaleesa Bowen while Parris was too much for tournament darling Mia Mascoll. Former women's champ Margaret Prince brushed aside Anjanie Persaud while Comarie Mansour looked in good form in beating Lizza Corbin. (PR)