Despite losing to Khalid Gajraj in their sixth round encounter Saeed Ali was still able to capture the Intermediate category of the Oasis Café-sponsored monthly chess tournament held last Saturday at Oasis Too on South Road.
Stanley Ming Jr., returned to competitive chess after taking a few months break to claim second place while Gajraj and Sham Khan were joint third.
Ali and Ming Jr. each ended with five points out of a possible six but Ali, who defeated Ming in their head-to-head clash, was awarded the top spot on that basis.
Gajraj, and Irshad Ishmael ended on four points while Lee Fung-a-Fat ended with three and one half.
The other places went to Khalif Gobin on three points, Sheriffa Ali on two-and-one-half points, Devendra Singh and Kana Khan with two points and Antonio Seenanan and Jared Ramnarayan with one point each.
In the beginners’ category, newcomer Mikael Phang of Marian Academy took first place with Khalid Gobin second and Athena Seenanan third.
As in the Intermediate category, Phang and Gobin each ended on five points but Phang defeated Gobin in their encounter to finish ahead.
Athena Seenanan on four-and-one-half points was third while Daniel Simboo and Darius Ali were joint fourth on three-and-one-half points.
Michael Phang, Nicholas Khan and Joannah Ramsammy on two-and-one-half points, Ashmita Tulsi, Alicia Sims and Jon Beri Low on two points and Crystal Dey with one point claimed the remaining places.
The tournament was sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Walker of the Oasis Café and was organized by the Oasis Chess Club.