Chess gains support
THE Ela Beach Hotel’s Beachside Balcony provided the setting last Saturday for chess enthusiasts from around Moresby to play the iconic board game against fellow devotees of all ages in the newly started Port Moresby chess competition.
The tournament, organised by PNG Chess Federation secretary Stuart Fancy and vice-president Mark Aiio, attracted over 40 players with half that number being children (under 18).
Fancy made special mention of host Graham Osborne, thanking him for providing the impressive venue and also commending the turnout of experienced players and younger participants.
The competition split in two groups with adults playing amongst themselves and the children playing each other.
In the round robin fixtures, players competed against drawn opponents with undefeated contestants progressing through the rounds to the finals held later in the day.
The children’s competition uncovered a host of chess playing talent with some as young as seven and up to 18 year old high school students but it was 14-year-old Kimberly Aiio, who came in first winning four from four and clinching the top honours after defeating Greg Tonneman 13, in a tie-breaking match for first place.
For the mature players definite chess prospect Robin Campbell topped the adults division while Manusians Solosol Palek and Ian Pamuan picked up second and third place respectively.
The PNGCF through Fancy and Aiio are also looking at hosting a bigger tournament during Independence week in September, which would prepare chosen players to represent PNG at the World Chess Olympiad in Germany scheduled for October.
In the meantime the PNGCF would continue to hold regular chess competitions, teaching novices and also selling chess sets.