The 2023 Vodafone Fiji National Chess Championship came to a thrilling conclusion with intense competition and display of remarkable skills.
Manoj Kumar, a Candidate Master (CM), and Cydel Terubea, a Provisional Women’s Candidate Master (WCM), emerged champions of the 2023 Vodafone Fiji National Open Chess Championship and 2023 Vodafone Fiji National Women’s Chess Championship, respectively.
Both players were unbeaten throughout the five-day chess tournament.
Kumar secured his 16th National Chess Championship title by accumulating an impressive 8/9 score, a record unmatched by anyone since chess began in Fiji in 1979.
In the second and third positions were CM Ronald Terubea and Yash Krishen Maharaj from The University of the South Pacific, both with strong scores of 7/9.
CM Taione Sikivou and Provisional FIDE Master (FM) Rudr Ravi Prasad took the fourth and fifth places with competitive scores of 6.5/9 each.
Provisional WCM Cydel Terubea dominated the Vodafone Fiji Women’s National Chess Championship with a perfect 9/9 score, securing the title ahead of Provisional WCM Tanvi Radha Prasad and Women’s National Rapid Chess Champion Louisa Corpuz, who finished with scores of 7.5/9 and 6.5/9, respectively.
Goru Arvind, the championship’s general secretary, expressed gratitude to Vodafone Fiji for their continuous support of chess and announced that the support would continue into 2024.
The tournament also featured divisions for secondary and primary school students with Arnav Lal and Yajas Sharma topping their respective divisions.
Several players were recognised with awards, including the Best Upset Award, which was won by Yajas Sharma and Louis Corpuz. Additionally, Joshua Sahayam and Fulori Masau received the Best Beginner Awards.
The tournament was organised by Chief Arbiter WCM Gloria Sukhu and National Arbiter (NA) William Robert Raymond Bennion.
The officials and players of Fiji Chess Federation extended their best wishes for the holiday season and announced the upcoming 2024 Vodafone Fiji National Blitz Chess Championship in late January.
This event will likely see new young talents emerging as potential representatives for Fiji in the 2024 World Chess Olympiad.
