Motilall prevails over Hussein in sudden death chess play-off

Ron Motilall defeated Rashad Hussein Saturday in their sudden death playoff to be  crowned Junior Chess King of the Royal Academy of Chess (RCA) tournament held at the American University of Peace Studies on Sheriff Street.

Coming out the queen’s pawn opening, Hussein made an early error that subsequently led to an early material disadvantage. This disadvantage, however, opened lines for dynamic attacks which forced Motilall into returning the piece.

Going into the end game Motilall was able to comfortably convert a pawn ending into a win.

The tournament which began August 4 was originally scheduled to end on August 8. However, both Motilall and Hussein ended the competition with seven and one half points each which necessitated the playoff.

Originally, the winner of the tournament was scheduled to be in receipt of 50% sponsorship of all expenses to attend the annual Sagicor Junior Championship held in Barbados from August 10-13, as well as full accommodation expenses to attend the FIDE Umana Cup Chess Tournament that began in Trinidad and Tobago from last Friday and will end today.

Tournament organizer Wendell Meusa said the players will now be compensated with sponsorship to the Suriname Open chess tournament scheduled for November.

Muesa explained that because the tournament was for junior players’ compensation in the form of cash incentive was not being considered.

Instead, compensation along the lines of sponsorship to future tournaments was being contemplated.