The Fiji under-20 Chess Championship was held on Saturday, at the University of the South Pacific (USP), draw a strong turnout of 50 players from across the country.
Competitors from primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions battled it out over six intense rounds, producing impressive results and highlighting the growing depth of young chess talent in Fiji.
USP’s Rudr Prasad emerged as the overall champion with a perfect score of 6/6, while Praveer Singh (MBHS) and Lionel Vaurasi (Yat Sen) followed closely behind.
In the female category, Useli Herath (Jai Narayan College) claimed the title, with Latileta Masau (SJSS) and Tanvi Prasad (FNU) finishing second and third respectively.
Fiji Chess Federation President Hilda Kunau praised the strong participation and performance of the players.
“We are very encouraged to see 50 young players competing with such passion and determination,” said Kunau.
“This tournament not only identifies our representatives for the upcoming Oceania Youth Chess Championship in Brisbane but also helps nurture the next generation of chess talent in Fiji.
“The level of competition we witnessed is a sign that the future of chess in Fiji is in very capable hands.”