Mark Cardona, the National Junior Chess Champion from De la Salle, confirmed his potential by chalking up all seven points in the Chess Open tournament, held recently at St Paul’s Missionary College, Rabat.

Rita Saliba and Naomi Mercieca, both from St Catherine’s, managed to win four games each, but because Saliba had to contend against tougher opponents, she was declared winner of the girls’ category.

Forty-six participants from 12 Secondary Schools participated in the second edition of the SPMC Chess Open which was eligible to competitors under 16 years. The represented schools were mainly Church and Independent ones, highlighting the vacuum that there exists in Government schools. One cannot but lament the waste of potential in chess and other sports.

In the boys’ category, Glenn Fenech, also from De la Salle, finished second with six points, while Leonard Farrugia from St Paul’s Missionary College was third with five points. In the girls’ category, Sarah Cachia from the Immaculate Conception was third with three points.

At the end of the tournament, Fr Gerard Bonello, Rector of St Paul’s Missionary College, expressed his hope that the SPMC Chess Open will become a permanent fixture of the calendar of the Malta Chess Federation.