Current national chess champion Frank Gibson proved he's up to the task of defending his title in November by winning the Bank of Bahamas International Fall Classic, held at C. C. Sweeting High School recently.

This year, the tournament again attracted one of the year's largest fields, owing to the bank's sponsorship and generous prizes. The Fall Classic decides who plays in the national championships which starts November 3 and continues on for three weekends.

The leading Open Division saw three former national champions vying for the trophy: Frank Gibson, Byron Small and Thierry Boeuf. The tournaments third rated Boeuf was happy with his play. He was runner-up to Gibson and can now challenge him in the longer, six game match for the national championship.

Yet it wasn't all plain sailing for Gibson to come out on top. In the most surprising game of the event, the promising junior Elton Joseph, who is rated only at 1665, did well to hold the 2272-rated Gibson to a draw. Indeed, Boeuf, was leading the tournament with a half point going into the final and fifth round, but he blundered against Gibson—handing him the victory and the Bank of Bahamas' trophy. With this display of parity, if only from one game, the nation's two strongest players are set to give the public an exciting battle in the upcoming match, said Tournament Director, Warren Seymour.

Chess federation officials believe that with practice, study and extra training, the surprisingly solid Elton Joseph and the two Thompson twins from Kingsway Academy are the most promising harvest of juniors. Officials say that with dedication they will soon be able to slug it out with the country's senior chess elite for the national crown.

In encouraging the young men to pursue their ambitions, Warren Seymour asked: "How many school leavers or even college graduates from the Bahamas can show "National Bahmas Chess Champion" on their resumés?"

On hand to watch the final action and to present sponsor's trophies and medals was Public Relations Officer Samantha Neely from from Bank of The Bahamas International.

After the Bank's qualifying tournament, the selected matches for the national championships in the various age divisions are:

• Senior Division (Open): Thierry Boeuf challenging reigning National
Champion Frank Gibson
• Veteran Division: Warren Seymour vs. Leroy McLean
• Reserve Division: Clive Stuart vs. Ken Gibson
• Under 20: Gerald Higgs (COB) vs. Kenville Lockhart (COB)
• Under 18: Elton Joseph (HO Nash) vs. Le Roi Thompson (Kingsway)
• Under 16: Lemaro Thompson (KIngsway) vs. Desmond Rahming
• Under 14: Lincoln Knowles (SAC) vs. Lavardo Rolle (SAC)
• Under 12: John Pintard vs. Jason Bain.

In the National Championships contenders play a 6-game match, one per day, stretched out over three weekends. The final round is usually held at Government House in December and attended by the Ministry of Youth Sports & Culture, the public and the press.