THE top seven chess players of the Topco Juices Junior Championship 2012 Qualifiers have emerged for the 2012 National Junior Championship following the end of the event last weekend which attracted 22 junior players, at the Kei-Shar’s Sports Club. Seasoned junior player Anthony Drayton went unbeaten to win the event but Saeed Ali and Carlos Petterson were the only players to play to a draw with Drayton.
The top seven qualifiers who are now eligible to enter the 2012 National Junior Chess Championship are Anthony Drayton, former Junior Champion Ron Motilall, Saeed Ali, Carlos Petterson, Davion Mars, Dravin Drickpaul and Trenton Bennett.
They will meet each other and current Junior Champion, Haifeng Su of Queen’s College in what is expected to be a keenly contested challenge next month for the 2012 title of National Junior Chess Champion.
The points standings at the end of the seven-round qualifier tournament read: Anthony Drayton –  six points, Ron Motielall and Saeed Ali – five and a half points each, Carlos Petterson – five points, Davion Mars – four and a half points and Dravin Drickpaul and Trenton Bennett – four points each.
A separate medal was awarded to ten-year-old Ethan Lee of Marian Academy for being the Best Under-13 Player and Davendra Naraine of West Demerara Secondary copped the prize for Best Under-16 Player.
DDL Sales Manager Alexis Langhorne presented the prizes to the winners and once again declared her company’s support to chess. She disclosed that she is optimistic that the number of players will continue to grow.
Meanwhile, president of the Guyana Chess Federation Shiv Nandalall expressed gratitude to DDL for remaining very supportive and committed to the sport.
Nandalall also urged the emerging top players to get prepared for the junior championship.