Fiji Times 03/05/10 

A NEW champion was unveiled in the secondary division of the Fiji Schools Chess Championship at Pasifika Campus in Suva yesterday.

Mahatma Gandhi High School (MGM) Form Six student Asrit Singh defeated top bet Hilda Areki of Saint Joseph's Secondary School to win top honours.

Tournament coordinator Manoj Kumar was happy with the turnout and the standard of competition during the annual event.

The national chess champion said the newcomers displayed a wonderful performance against the experienced ones.

"I'm very pleased with the good turnout. We have a good number of participants and the tournament was successful," Kumar said.

"We had some experienced and some new players taking part but I was surprised to see some new ones performing so well."

Kumar said the secondary school champion was a newcomer but played vigorously to beat the top favourites.

"I haven't seen him (Asrit) playing before.

"He performed well and I think he deserves the win."

In the primary school division, MGM Primary's Esha Raicer won the top prize.

Kumar said the Class Six student had been dominating the category for some time but faced a tough battle yesterday.