NATIONAL UNDER-12 CHESS CHAMP: Rohansonn Waithe of Westbury Primary.

Rohansonn Waithe of Westbury Primary School is the new Under-12 national chess champion.

The Westbury Primary School lad scored 5 1/2 points out of a possible six to claim the title ahead
of Xavier Mansour of Queen's College and Rachaun Holland
of Christ Church Boys' who finished tied on five points.

Mansour, with the better tie-break, took second place, and Holland claimed third.

Following the leaders were Nicholas Blackman, Kemp Lynch and Sebastian Franklyn
of St Matthew's Primary, who all scored 4.5 points. Malique Richards of Harrison College and Yu Tien Poon of St Angela's, who were among the early leaders, faltered in final rounds to finish on four points.

The last round of the competition was very exciting as it was the game between Waithe and Mansour that decided the championship. Mansour only needed a draw to claim the title but a determined Waithe, who needed to win, pressed on to victory after having a slight advantage going into the endgame.

In the Under-10 section, Asha Chadderton of Wesley Hall made sure that she wouldn't have
to wait until the last round by defeating her main rival Cherise Austin of St Jude's Primary in round five to take an unassailable lead going into the last round.

Chadderton finished on five points with the better tie-break to take the title ahead of Austin, also on five points.

Shea Cardoza, Brian Leacock, Alexander Weel and Darius White all scored 4 1/2 points. Oshara Mason and Andrew James also put in impressive performances to end on four points.

The next event will be the Sagicor National Sports Council Primary School Championships starting on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. at Harrison College. (PR)