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Chess champion sets new record

Three Surrey players win national titles in a Winnipeg competition.
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Tanraj Sohal has won his ninth national chess championship.

Three Surrey residents won national titles in their respective grades in the 2014 Canadian National Scholastic Chess Championships on May 18-19 in Winnipeg.

The winning Team BC players were Tanraj Sohal (Grade 12), Joshua Doknjas (Grade 6) and Luke Pulfer (Grade 5).

Sohal won the event for the ninth time.

Provincially, he has won both the Fraser Valley Regional Chess Championships and BC Provincial Chess Championships in his grade level from Grades 1 to 12 a record 12 consecutive years.

Sohal is the current BC chess champion regardless of age.

Photo: Joshua Doknjas (left) and Luke Pulfer.

Canadian Chess Challenge is the annual event where each province is represented by their 12 Provincial Champions (one player from Grades 1 to 12). The event is organized and sponsored by the Chess’n Math Association, Canada's National Scholastic Chess Organization.

Each player plays nine round robin matches over two days in their respective grades against each of the provincial champions.

Sohal was recognized by the Chess’n Math Association with a special plaque presentation as the only player in the history of the tournament to represent his province for 12 consecutive years.

Sohal also carried the Canadian flag during the event's opening ceremony.