Wilson upstages top seed to win National Chess

Teenager Louis Wilson pulled up an upset win against top seed Justin Parsons to pave the way for his capture of the Barbados Chess Federation’s (BCF) National Championship 3^rd Qualifier.

The 15-year-old Wilson, the no. 5 seed, toppled the previously unbeaten Parsons in the sixth round of the Qualifier last Wednesday night and clinched the event with another victory in the final round of games on Friday night at the Chess Centre on Exmouth Gap, Brandons, St. Michael.

Both Wilson, the reigning National Under-16 champion and Parsons, a former National Under-20 champion, finished with six out of a maximum seven points but Wilson was declared the winner on account of winning the head-to-head clash.

Nitin Mahtani ended with five-and-a-half points to clinch the third qualifying spot for next month’s National Championship finals.

Hannah Wilson, who was fourth with four-and-a-half points, was the Best Female for the second successive Qualifier, while Rory Prescod, who ended with four points to take fifth place on the tie break ahead of four other competitors, was the Best Under-16.

Cyprian La Touche, Aaron Haynes, Jalia Linton and Keon Lashley also finished on four points to round off the top half of the competition which attracted 19 entrants.

After Louis Wilson’s win against Parsons in the penultimate round, the stage was set for an exciting finish as six players went into the last round with a chance at taking the honours.

Parsons was the first to win on the final night, defeating Haynes on Board 1 but then had to await the outcome of the game between Wilson and Prescod on Board 2. Once Wilson emerged victorious, he was confirmed as the winner of the Qualifier.

Wilson, Parsons and Mahtani will join the top three from the January’s 1^st Qualifier (Kyle Sandiford, Emar Edwards and Akeem Cox ) and the first three from last month’s 2^nd Qualifier (Othneil Harewood, Mark Lowe and Adam Roachford) in the National Championship finals scheduled for October 10 to 20. The nine qualifiers will be attempting to dethrone two-time defending champion Orlando Husbands. (BCF)