"Agressive chess players are always luckier.."
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18-year-old Daren Wisdom walked away with the 2002 National Junior Chess Championship title on Sunday, after a weekend of stunning upsets.

After coming into the copmpetition with only hopes of finishing in the top 3, behind main title contenders Alain Morais of Meadowbrook High and Wolmer's Malku Lorne, Wisdom turned the tables on his opponents, pulling off an incredible performance by defeating the three top ranked juniors in the final three rounds.

On Saturday, Wisdom pulled-off an incredible double upset, when he out-hustled Lorne in the 5th round, and then went on to defeat top-ranked Morais in the 6th round. Wisdom's 5th round win over Lorne was a pulsating affair. Down a Bishop for two pawns after move 30, Wisdom was fortunate as Lorne failed to find the correct moves which, would have led to a quick and decisive win. Instead, Lorne played wrongly and lost in to a ferocious attack complicated by a time trouble.

In the deciding seventh round on Sunday, Wisdom again pulled off a miraculous victory over UTech's Kevin Diston to lift the title with an incredible 6 points from 7 games. Lorne finished second with 5.5 points,followed by Morais in third with 5 points. There was a three-way tie for fourth between Diston, Ardene's Brandon Wilson and Calabar's Ryan Blackwood.

FINAL STANDINGS

1. D. Wisdom 6
2. M. Lorne(Wolmers) 5.5
3. A. Morais(Meadowbrook) 5
4. K. Diston(UTech) 4
5. B. Wilson(Ardene) 4
6. R. Blackwood(Calabar) 4
7. F. Henry(KC) 3.5
8. D. Lai(Calabar) 3.5
9. C. Ross(Campion) 3.5

END

Click here to see National Women champs results