Mazhar wins British Youth Championship

The 2011 Youth Championships had 24 competitors aged from 7 to 18, with strengths from 2 dan to 30 kyu. The new library block at Bloxham School in Oxfordshire served as a great venue. Mazhar Warraich from Aston won the youth championship with 4 straight wins including beating Tian-Ren Chen from Loughborough. Silas Yufu Shi, 2 dan, from Loughborough was the strongest player taking part but he has Chinese nationality; his only loss was against Mazhar in a rematch of the first round. Prizes and places went to:

• Overall winner: Mazhar Warraich (Aston) 2nd: Tian-Ren Chen (Loughborough)
• U18: Mazhar Warraich (Aston) 2nd: Jamie Taylor (Leeds)
• U16: Tian-Ren Chen (Loughborough) 2nd: Matei Mandache (Loughborough)
• U14: Aidan Putman (Swindon) 2nd: Thomas Meehan (Solihull)
• U12: Roella Smith (Cambridge) 2nd: Ibraheem Mustafa (Aston)
• U10: Not contested
• U8: Anthony Ghica (Newmarket)
• Open/Handicap Winner: Silas Yufu Shi (Loughborough)
• Castledine Trophy: Loughborough (beat Aston 3-0)

Thanks to Pelican Books and author Chris Bradford, the main prize winners were able to receive copies of "The Ring of Water". As the result of a collection, together with the proceeds from the event, £150 was sent to the Red Cross Japan Tsunami Appeal.

Full Results [1]