CANDIDATE master (CM) Manoj Kumar survived a stunning loss to Philip Sukhu of Marist Brothers High School and a draw with CM Goru Arvind to win the 2021 Brijlal Fiji-sponsored National Blitz Chess Championship on the weekend.
Kumar amassed an unparalleled 10.5/12 to top a field of 46 players.
Nadi chess champion Avinesh Nadan and national champion CM Taione Sikivou finished second and third respectively with 10/12 on direct encounter, while CM Noel Adricula came fourth with a solid 9/12.
Yash Krishen Maharaj and CM Ronald Terubea took the fifth and sixth Open positions with 7/12.
“It was one of the most competitive blitz events ever in Fiji with several players coming all the way from the West,” Fiji Chess Federation general secretary Goru Arvind said.
“None of the top players achieved a perfect score and the overall winner was decided by just 1/2 a point.”
The women’s category was convincingly won by ex-Olympiad rep women’s candidate master (WCM) Gloria Sukhu who had 8/12, while Cydel Terubea finished closely at second place with 7.5/12.
