First Mind Games Sets The Standard For Future Championships

The Bahamas Mind Games are here to stay and the first edition held at the Kendal Isaacs Gym on Saturday Aug. 15th set a successful pace for years to come with champion in all disciplines eager to return in 2010 to defend their title and runners up wanting to get another crack at it.
The Games featured Chess, Pool Checkers, Bridge and Awarr,i and next year the New Providence Dominoes Association is expected to join the Games.
In the checkers competition Neil Wright pulled off a last minute victory by winning his final game to overtake Frank Cox for the historic first title. Leonard Bain finished third in the A-Division that featured the senior top master players. Robert Munroe won the B-Division, followed by Kenneth Duncombe second and Leroy Thurston in third place.
Wright who is the president of the Checkers Association said the competition was “very good” for the first time holding such an event. He said the “mindset is to get everyone from the different associations on the same page so that we can be more effective as a unit and we definitely want the kids to be apart of what we are trying to do."
"We are looking at making this an annual event and next year we expect it to be bigger and better, but this year was very competitive, and I think that the level of competition is going to increase in the years to come," said Wright.
In the chess competition there were 19

players and two divisions including the Open and Under 1500 (U1500).
 Kenville Lockhart won the Open Division with 3½ points, followed second and third by National Master Byron Small and Edmund Deal who both had 3½ points also.  All three of the top were undefeated in the tournament. Lockhart won on tie-break because his opponents had higher ratings.
Lockhart is a former member of the chess federation who had not played in tournaments for at least the past three years after enrolling in University. He defeated National Champion Ken Gibson who finished a disappointing and surprising 7th place.
 Of special note was that Exuma resident (US Citizen), Randy Hart, flew into New Providence especially to participated in the event.  He finished with two points from four games. 
 Dr. Yan Lyansky of the USA and new C.O.B. Lecturer won the U1500 division with three points from four games.  He was followed by Dexter Williams Bahamian resident (Jamaican Citizen) who also finished with three points from four games.  10th grader, David Bullard finished 3rd with two points.
 Kiran Diggiss, Sophia Millar (six years old - youngest participant) and Polina Major were awarded performance medals.
 Vice President of the Chess Federation Milton Evans said, "We can already see the benefits of the different associations coming together and sharing resources and thought processes.”
For chess it was an open competition where some of the younger players got a chance to compete against the older players. “The games also attracted some players that we haven't seen in some time so that is also a good sign, and so the potential for these games to grow is tremendous," said Evans.
After it was suggested to him Evans said consideration would be given to hosting the games at a venue that has better ambiance, like perhaps maybe one of the hotels. However, he noted that the government assisted greatly by allowing them to use the Kendal Isaacs Gym free of charge and they could not refuse that offer.
 Dr. David Sands and Mrs. Leslie Spencer defeated Kimberly Minors and Ms Virgil for the Bridge title.
Spencer, originally from England said playing in the first Mind Games "was fierce and I was surprised to find out that I won, I expect to come back next summer and defend my title and bring a few friends along as well."
After the loss, Virgil who has been playing competitive bridge for about 20 years said she too expects to be back next year and described the competition as "very enjoyable."
Minors who is president of the Bridge Association congratulated Sands and Spencer for winning the first title at the Mind Games. "Actually it went well, and  although the numbers were small we all agreed that it was a good showing for the first time. And our future efforts will put a lot of emphasis on attracting younger players; my partner today is 85-years old and the game really helps to keep peoples mind active the same as chess and checkers, especially when you play at a competitive level but we do need to keep the sport alive in The Bahamas by attracting new players."
She said the way the four associations worked together was wonderful, "everything was done on time, we followed through on things and there was nothing left lagging so I think we can continue to improve on what we had this year. Also the support we got from the Ministry of Sports truly impressed me. They came to the official opening, they gave us a financial contribution and use of the facilities, so we couldn't ask for more."
"Now we have to take the concept of the Mind Games into the schools," added Minors. 
She noted that the Dominoes Association is also invited to join the Games "so long as they are willing to play a quieter form of the game or in a separate room because dominoes is also very popular among Bahamians and we would love to have them as part of the Games.
  Sands who was part of the winning bridge team is also passionate about the game of Awarri and is adamant that the game is introduced or reintroduced to the schools. 
He said, in addition to the game helping students learnto count, it is a game that came to The Bahamas with the African Slaves and is something Bahamians should want to keep as part of their tradition and culture.
All of the organisations involved in the first Mind Sports Games thanked the Ministry of Sports for their support in providing the venue and a grant which help defray the cost.
 See more Photos of the first Mind Games on page B8.