2nd Labasa Open Championship
The Labasa Open Chess Championships was held on 3 September 2011 at the Sangam College in Labasa. Labasa Chess Club President Bhim Raj said that the field for the event was strong despite the turnout being less than expected. He attributed this to the festive mood in the north at present. The double round robin event saw defending champion Dr. Jashint Maharaj retain the prestigious title with a score of 6/6 points. Dr. Maharaj said that he was happy with his performance and added that the strength of his opponents’ matches showed the depth of hidden talent in the North.
Mr. Raj and Mansoor Ali were tied for second spot but Raj managed to defeat Ali in the final round to claim the runner up spot while Ali was relegated to third. Bulileka Primary School student Mohd Sifraaz was the best placed schools participant.The formation of the Labasa Chess Club under the auspices of the Fiji Chess Federation was an initiative by local chess enthusiasts last year and the successful hosting of two events has laid foundations for the promotion of chess in the Northern division.
Photo: Bhim Raj (left) vs Mansoor Ali (right) in a crucial final round match at the Labasa Open Chess Championship
Fiji Chess Federation President Dr. Virgilio De Asa hailed the second edition of the Labasa Open Chess Championships a huge success. Dr. De Asa mentioned that the chess event was a sign of continued sport development in the country and thanked the club officials for their continued efforts.
The next event on the Fiji Chess Federation calendar will be the 2011 Courts Open Championship on 11 September.