Jake Darmanin (right) receiving the winner’s trophy.

Jake Darmanin has won the Under-20 chess junior championship for the fourth year running, winning all of his five games.

In his final year as a junior, the 20-year-old Darmanin, who has also qualified for the championship finals next month, saw off the challenge of Isaac Portelli, Michael Farrugia, Jamie Farrugia, Timothy Portelli and Ariana Axiaq.

In the final round, the fight for second place was very exciting with Jamie Farrugia and Axiaq on three points followed by Timothy Portelli on 2.5 points.

Farrugia secured second place and the U-20 girls’ title with a draw against Portelli, while Axiaq ended in third place with a better tiebreak score over Portelli and Matthias Gatt.

Gatt, 11, won three games against Isaac Portelli, Michael Farrugia and Martina Portelli. He claimed the best U-16 player award.

Matthew Conti had a great start, dropping half-a-point in the first two rounds, but then went down to Farrugia and Axiaq, both member of the women’s national team.

The winners
Juniors (men): Jake Darmanin.
Juniors (women): Jamie Farrugia.
Best U-18: Timothy Portelli, Ariana Axiaq.
Best U-16: Matthias Gatt, Martina Portelli.