High school chess championship moves into higher gear
The first six zones of the Annual National High Schools Chess Championship were completed on November 9 and 10, with teams from St Andrew and Kingston and Cornwall county competing.
After a thrilling tournament, Wolmer’s Boys’ High School A Team attained a perfect score of 20 points in Zone 1A. Campion College A were also impressive in scoring 23 out of 24 points in Zone 2A.
The winners of each zone move onto the finals and second-place finishers will participate in the play-offs, which will be held on January 26, 2024, while the finals will be on March 7 and 8.
Wolmer’s Boys’ High School A Team, St George’s College B Team, Campion College A Team, Ardenne High School A Team, Green Island High School A Team, and Green Island High School B Team have advanced to the finals.
Kingston College A, B & D Teams, Wolmer’s Boys’ High School B Team, Campion College B & C Teams, Jamaica College A Team, Calabar High School A Team, Manning’s High School A & B Teams, Cornwall College A Team, Green Island High School Girls Team, Hampton High School A Team advanced to the play-offs.
Jamaica Chess Federation Council member and Wolmer’s Boy’s High School Team Manager Richard Shaw said: “The A team played well against quality competition, the short-term goal is to qualify the B team to the grand finals via the play-offs in January and continue working towards defending our title in the finals. All schools played very well.”
Eighty teams have entered the competition and will play in the first round of the event. Schools participating in this tournament for the first time includes Lennon High School, Hampton High School and Cambridge High School. The girls’ teams in the event include Immaculate Conception High School’s A & B teams led by former national champion and Olympiad participant Gabriella Watson, Hampton High School’s A, B, C & D teams, Green Island High School, St Andrews High School for Girls led by Kaity Gayle and Olympiad participant Kaia Gayle; and Wolmer’s Girls High School led by reigning National Under-20 champion Amy Stephenson.
