Indonesia's Aston wins under-8s at junior chess championship

Indonesia's Aston wins under-8s at junior chess championship

Brian Church Associated Press/Athens

The first world school chess championships ended Thursday with top prizes split between host Greece, Indonesia, Poland, Romania and Russia.

The tournament, held at the northern Greek seaside resort of Halkidiki, involved 200 young players from more than 20 countries.

It was organized by the Athens-based World Chess Federation, FIDE, which named 2005 the year of school chess.

Indonesia's Aston Taminsyah won the Under-8 tournament -- the most junior of the five age categories below age 16 -- with 8 points in nine rounds.

Fernando Spada Jr., the seven-year-old Texan who boasted before the tournament he was "coming to win," came second with 7.5 points.

Greece swept the first three places in the Under-10s - won by Manos Kazakos.

Zbigniew Strzemiecki from Poland triumphed in the Under-12s.

Favorites Ioan-Cristian Chirila from Romania and Russia's Valentina Gounina took the top honors in the Under-14 and Under- 16 age groups.

Spada said he had one regret from the weeklong chess fest -- not beating eventual winner Taminsyah in the third round.

"I really enjoyed playing good, playing great chess, just made one little mistake," the boy said, speaking after a game of soccer with truck driver dad Fernando Sr.

The second-grader from Brownsville, Texas, was taught chess by his grandfather at age four while his parents were out at the movies.

He is currently rated No.3 in the U.S. for his age group.