Burger King National Championships

AFTER three rounds of play, the 2011 Burger King National Junior Chess Championships is poised for an exciting finish this weekend at the Half-Way-Tree Entertainment Centre.

Four players are tied in the lead on two points — they include Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Margoe Williams, Miguel Asher of Wolmer’s Boys, Glenmuir’s Andrew Ellis and Calabar’s Shreyas Smith.

Pre-tournament favourite Hakim Buchanan faltered at Round Two last Sunday, losing to Smith, and has only managed to secure one point so far in the championship. Also on one point are Laurence Davey, Ardenne’s Jonathan Orgill and Damani Reid.

With the last four rounds scheduled for today and tomorrow, all eight entrants have lost at least one game and all have secured at least one point.

In Round Four scheduled for this morning, co-leaders Smith and WCM Williams will meet in the top of the table clash, in a game which will pit Williams’ greater experience versus Smith’s youthful exuberance and significant preparartion work.

Other games scheduled to take place today include Ellis vs Buchanan, Davey vs Orgill and Reid vs Asher.