The fourth and last qualifier for this year’s finals of the national chess championship has produced three players whose recognised skills should make the climaxing event all the more fascinating.
They are well known southerner Keevin James, veteran player-organiser Hayden Lee and stalwart Kishore Ramadhar making a dramatic comeback to competitive chess after a six-year layoff.
Each of the three finalists topping the South preliminary has a different story to tell as they join the eight others who will be seeking next October to write their names in the history books by succeeding current champion Kevin Cupid.
James’ victory in the South is his first in a major event, but it is no surprise as his dedication to the sport is well known. Indeed, his impressive success in this final qualifier may well be seen as the inevitable result of James’ expanding study of the game.
Now, what can DR say about Hayden Lee’s abiding commitment to chess that isn’t already well known? Apart from his personal emergence as a top class player, Lee has dedicated himself to taking the celebrated mind game to the grassroots, confident in his belief that the mental discipline which the sport imparts can make a difference in uplifting the underprivileged section of the T&T Society.
Among Lee’s various efforts in this direction is his formation and leadership of the Promenade Chess Club which, after some four active years, has become a familiar nightly activity in the busy down-town section of the nation’s capital city.
Also, Lee’s pioneering project is gaining wider support from the surrounding Promenade business community which helps in promoting the clubs’ popular open tournaments.
Kishore Ramadhar’s return to tournament chess has an excitement of its own since his sudden departure from the game six years ago curtailed a career that seemed destined for great things.
He became a leading contender for the championship after qualifying for the finals several times but he abruptly abandoned the sport to support his elder brother Prakash who eventually won the St Augustine seat in the 2010 general elections eventually assuming the portfolio of Minister of Legal Affairs in the UNC government.
Apparently with more time on his hands now, Kishore is again responding to the bite of the chess bug and his return to the sport after six years is welcome but it prompts the intriguing question, is he still as good as he used to be? Only time will tell.
So the eleven contenders for the 2016 national chess title have finally been decided by the four qualifiers. Looking at the field, it is clear that lovers of the sport are in for a treat as the final “battle” runs its intriguing course. Now champion Kevin Cupid faces the trial of his career as he proceeds to defend his title. There should be no doubt, however, that he has the ability to do it.
But other questions inevitably arise; Will Ryan Harper add another championship title to his bag of seven? Can Frank Yee do it again? Will Mario Merritt climax his formidable career by becoming the natrion’s new chess king? Will Joshua Johnson create chess history as T&T’s first schoolboy champion? Will Dr Sean Nedd become the first Tobagonian to wear the crown? Will Adrian Winter Atwell take his winning tournament streak to the top? Will youngsters Keevin James or Rickson Thomas or Esan Wiltshire creates the finals’ biggest upset?
The concluding “battle” will tell.