St Jago tipped to retain PCJ title

KINGSTON:

Defending champions St Jago High School is favoured to retain the title, as Jamaica's top 16 high school chess teams do battle in the finals of the 2015/16 Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) National School's Chess Championships, at the PCJ Auditorium in New Kingston today and tomorrow.

The finalists include defending champions St Jago High A, Campion College, Mannings A and B, Ardenne, Jamaica College, Wolmer's Boys', Glenmuir A and B, St Jago B, Calabar, St Catherine A and B, Excelsior A and B and Decarteret College.

This year's format will see all the teams playing four rounds and the team with the most points at the end of the tournament will be crowned national champion. This new format, according to the Jamaica Chess Federation, will allow more teams to experience the intensity and excitement of the finals, which was normally only contested by the top corporate and rural area teams.

St Jago A retained all their players from last year's championship team and are the overwhelming favourites. However, strong challenges are expected from Campion College, Ardenne and Wolmer's Boys'. Calabar High, which boasts Jamaica's national junior champion, National Master Shreyas Smith, may cause some trouble for the defending champions.

Two matches will be played on both Saturday and Sunday. Match time is scheduled for 10 a.m.