Joshua Johnson, national junior chess champion, yesterday won the Under-14 division of the age-group championship with a perfect score of six points out of six rounds.
Johnson confirmed his status as one the country's most distinguished juniors by running easily through a field of 13 players. The victory is the latest in a string of unbeaten wins in local junior tournaments for the 13-year-old Fatima College student.
Taking second and third places among the boys were Daniel Bhola and Sylvan Yearwood, both on three and a half points.
Joshua's sister Gabriella, who represented T&T at last year's Olympiad, emerged the girls champion in the Under-14 group. She finished on four and a half points, half a point ahead of second placed Shannon Yearwood.
Vandorf Smith was the only entrant in the Under 18 category. As such he would be entitled to represent the country in foreign tournaments.
In the Under 16 division, Mahendra Singh and Javanna Smith emerged boy's and girl's champions, each scoring five and a half points.
Another brother and sister pair, Mikel and Athena Martin, finished on champions row. Mikel topped a field of 20 players to win the boy's Under-12 title with a perfect score of seven. Behind him were Phillip Mohanned and Zaakir Razark on four each. Leading the girls in this division were Della-Marie Walcott and Ami Aly both on five and a half.
Sean Yearwood emerged the boy's Under-ten champion, scoring six and a half on top a field of 16 players. Second and third places were taken by Nicoli Mohammed and Matthew Inkim on five and four respectively. Among girls in this division, Shemilah James topped the field with five and a half points.
Athena Martin won the girl's Under 8 title with a score of five.
The Junior Age-Group Championships were played in the St Mary's College auditorium.
The Under-20 tournament to determine the national junior champion comes off on the next two weekends at St Georges College, Barataria.
