National draughts champion Omatie Mahabir edged Cisley Foster by one point to walk away with this year’s T&T Women’s Draughts Championship title in a successful defence of the title she won in 2010. Many spectators came out to witness the highly anticipated final at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Arima which started from 11am. All eyes were focused on the board one where defending champion Mahabir, and top challenger Cisley Foster, were trying to put each other into a position that can capture loose pieces or make combination to gain a strong position. Women Warriors’ Foster, playing with the black pieces, captured the middle just after move 15 and kept her pieces stationed there for the duration of the game.
Mahabir had to fight to come out with pieces on the flanks and made some crucial exchange to stop Foster from advancing. Had Mahabir played badly, she would have lost the game. But, after one hour and 50 minutes Foster made a last minute effort to crown a king only to sacrifice it later but, that was all done in vain as she could not find any combination to win, leaving the game to end in a draw. Spectators from as far as Penal came to the stadium to witness the intense mind sport. The stadium was so packed that there were only standing spaces left, as all the room was filled with relatives who came out to see there loved one become the 2011 national women’s draughts champion. It was Mahabir’s total of nine points that gained her the championship title, having won four games and drawn one. Foster (eight points) had to settle for second with three wins and two draws. Third was taken by former under-19 national champion and Tailors member, Anita Ramsundar, who lost her first game to Treasure Haynes.
In fourth was fellow Tailors team mate Emily Jagessar followed by Aleyah Ali of St Finbars PRC School in fifth. Ali, only 11 years old, commanded the board despite stiff competition from Haynes. Ali is also one of the top contenders attending for the primary school championship, which will also be held at the Larry Gomes Stadium from October 8 at 10 am. The competition is for primary school boys and girls across T&T and promises to be another great mind battle.
Source: www.guardian.co.tt