Chess: ISWK, ISG, British School, MSQPS advance

Sports Sunday 18/March/2018 15:55 PM
By: Times News Service
Chess: ISWK, ISG, British School, MSQPS advance

Muscat: Maintaining their unbeaten record, the Indian School Al Wadi Al Kabir (ISWK) advanced to the semifinals of the inaugural Muscat Schools Chess Champions League.
The first phase of the League, being organised by the French School of Muscat and the International Chess Academy of Oman, witnessed some exciting chess with ten participating teams competing fiercely for the four semifinal spots.
At the end of the single round robin league, where all teams played against each other once, the ISWK team were joined in the last four by Indian School Al Ghubra (ISG), British School Muscat A and Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos Private School (MSQPS).
With Jijo Joy, their top player with a FIDE rating of 1961, winning nine out of nine points, the ISWK topped the first phase of the League with 18 points.
The ISG team, whose only loss came against leaders ISWK, advanced to last four after earning 16 points.
Meanwhile, British School Muscat A needed a victory in their last round match against British School Muscat B to ensure their entry into the last four and the former managed to do that by finishing their first phase engagements with 11 points.
Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos Private School, who came up with some strong performances, posted some crucial victories to win 11 points and advance to the last four.
American British Academy, meanwhile, missed a semifinal berth by just one point after finishing fifth on 10 points.
More exciting chess is store as the top four will now clash in the semifinals, which will be followed the final, on April 21.
Meanwhile, Mahmood Al Hadidi of Omani selection team won an air ticket to Europe sponsored by Air France KLM.
While the participants enjoyed excellent facilities at the French School of Muscat, the organisers thanked international arbiter and Oman Chess Committee member Mussalam Al Wadhahi, FIDE arbiters Ruqayya Al Balushi and Ahmad Al Raisi, Candidates Master Zouhair Naciri and International Master and International Chess Academy of Oman Director Ismael Karim for smooth conduct of the matches.
The organisers also thanked the sponsors Zawawi Group, Air France KLM, Newrest Wacasco and Alawi & Co Adocates & Legal Consultants for their support to the League.

Standings (top four advanced to semis)
1. Indian School Al Wadi Al Kabir 18 pts,
2. Indian School Al Ghubra 16 pts,
3. British School of Muscat A 11 pts,
4. Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos Private School 11 pts,
5. American British Academy 10 pts,
6. Oman Private Schools Selection 9 pts,
7. French School of Muscat A 6 pts,
8. British School of Muscat B 6 pts,
9. Our Planet International School 3 pts,
10. French School of Muscat B 0.