Equitable Brown - file

National Master Equitable Brown won the 2008 Lasco National Chess Championship, after battling for six and a half hours to secure a hard fought final round draw against National Master Mark Holness at the Norman Manley Law School on Sunday night.

Holness missed a number of chances to win the game against Brown after emerging two pawns up in the middle game and having Brown against the ropes for most of the clash. Brown, however, refused to give up and fought on to salvage an incredible draw and with it a critical half point to end on eight points from eleven games and claim his first hold on the National Champion title.

Second was shared by Holness and National Master Brandon Wilson who each ended on seven points.

The final points standings were: Equitable Brown - eight points; Brandon Wilson and Mark Holness - seven points each; Damion Davy - 6.5 points; Stuart James - six points; Alain Morais - 5.5 points; Ian Wilkinson - five points; Zachary Ramsay, Andrew Mellace and Daren Wisdom - 4.5 points each; Onaje La Mont - four points and Phillip Pryce - 3.5 points.

Meanwhile woman fide master Deborah Richards notched her seventh straight hold on the national championship crown by scoring a perfect eight points from eight games in the nine-player field. The rapidly improving Ariel Barrett of Wolmer's Girls finished an impressive second by scoring 7/8, while third place went to Melisha Smith who scored 5.5/8.

The president's invitational event which was also played at the same time and venue as the national championship and the women's championship, was won by Ryan Blackwood who scored an unbeaten 10.5 points from 11 games. Second and third went to Markland Douglas and Paul Brooks who scored nine points each.