Blackman, Del Castilho advance in American World Cup knockout

Two Barbadian chess players have advanced to the third round of the American World Cup 2021 Qualification Stage event.

Reigning Caribbean blitz champion Justin Blackman and six-time national champion Martyn Del Castilho secured places in the round of 64 after scoring victories in contrasting fashion when the knockout rounds pushed off over the weekend.

Blackman, after battling to two draws against Cuban International Master Gonzalez Lopez over the standard time control, prevailed 2-0 in a tie-break under the faster rapid format. Blackman, who entered the knockout rounds seeded at no. 78 out of 114 players from 20 countries, had also defeated Lopez, who is seeded at no. 51, in the preliminary phase two weeks earlier.

Del Castilho’s passage to the next round was made without a challenge as his opponent, German Spata of Argentina, was a no-show for both games.

The round of 64 begins on Monday afternoon with the two Barbadian FIDE Masters coming up against Grandmasters. Blackman will face no. 14 seed, Perez Quesada of Cuba while Del Castilho, the no. 63 seed, is up against no. 2 seed Ramirez Delgado of Paraguay. The return games are scheduled for Tuesday at 2 p.m.

Reigning national triple crown champion Orlando Husbands, who entered the tournament from the knockout rounds, lost against fellow International Master Jonny Cueto of Bolivia in the opening game on Saturday before playing to a draw on Sunday.

The four other Barbadians in the knockout rounds – Katrina Blackman, Julissa Figueroa, Cyprian La Touche and Keon Lashley – lost both of their games against Grandmaster opponents.

The knockout rounds are using a hybrid format – players resident in one country assemble at a venue to play their games online on their computers under the supervision of arbiters. The Barbadians are playing from the Massy Training Facility in the Coles Building on Bay Street in Bridgetown.

The top eight players in the event, which is organised by the Confederation of Chess for Americas, will advance to the World Cup finals in Sochi, Russia, from July 10 to August 6. (BCF)