Immaculate Conception High School student Gabriella Watson, competing in her first Senior National Chess Championships, became the youngest female to capture the top prize with a perfect score of seven wins from seven games.

Watson, who is only 14 years old, overcame the challenge of the top seed Nickaylah Curwin in round four to win comfortably in the field of eight females. She also walked away with the $30,000.00 cash award reserved for first place.

Nickaylah Curwin was second on 5.5 points, with third going to Kaia Gayle of St Andrew High School for Girls on four points.

In the Absolute male competition, defending champion Fide Master (FM) Shreyas Smith captured his fourth senior national title as he overcame a round seven defeat to National Master (NM) Nathan Hinds to win comfortably on nine points from 11 games and claim the top cash award of $50,000.

Second went to first-time entrant at the senior level, Wolmerian Jaden Shaw, who finished on eight points after surprising the field and leading after the first four days of the competition.

The 14-year-old, Shaw, entered the competition as the lowest-rated player at FIDE 1614 and the only junior in the Absolute field of 12.

Jhustice Dimonte McDonald was third on seven points from Candidate Master (CM) Malik Curriah also on seven points, fourth based on tiebreak.

The Senior National Chess Championships, Absolute and female, will serve as the main qualifying event which will assist in selecting both teams to the FIDE Chess Olympiad to be held in Chennai, India, from July 28 to August 10.