Deborah Richards wins Jamaica's under-18!

Pete Myers, "Richards Takes National Age-Group Chess Championship," 20 July 2003 (Kingston, Jamaica).

National Women's Champion Deborah Richards of Wolmer's Girls (pictured right), scored a perfect 6 points from 6 games to capture the 2003 National Age-Group Chess Championship held at Campion College over the weekend.

Richards, who was the only female in the tournament, which included 14 of Jamaica's top junior chess players under the age of 18, walked away with the FM Grantel Gibbs Shield for the best player under 18 years of age.

Second place went to Campion College's Charles Ross who finished on 4½/6. Ross also won the award for being the top player under 16. Third went to Campion's Hadrian Christie who scored 4/6. Christie also won the runner-up prize in the under-16 category and the prize for the top player in the under-14 category.

The under 12 and under 10 categories were won by Hillel Academy's Phillip Pryce who finished with 3½/6. Pryce, despite his diminutive size, secured his points through outstanding performances against much older opponents. He also finished second in the under 14 age group. Both Richards and Pryce are trained by National Master Russell Porter.

The winners of each category have earned the right to represent Jamaica at the World Youth Chess Championships scheduled to take place in Halkidiki, Greece, from October 22nd - November 3rd 2003.

The next tournament on the Jamaica Chess Federation's calendar is the Summer Open which takes place this weekend July 26 and 27, at Preston Hall, University of the West Indies.

Jamaica Chess Federation

Posted by The Chess Drum: 25 July 2003