Barbados suffer defeats on third day of Chess Olympiad

Barbados’ Open and Women’s teams suffered defeats on the third day of the 44^th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India on Sunday.

After both squads pulled off big victories on the second day, the Open team lost 3-5-0.5 against Morocco while the Women’s side were beaten 4-0 by Angola.

Both Barbados teams played against higher rated opposition and came out on the losing end at the Sheraton Mahabalipuram Resort and Convention Centre.

FIDE Master Justin Blackman was the only Barbadian to avoid defeat as the Open team, which is ranked no. 124 out of 188 teams, came up against 75^th ranked Morocco.

Blackman, who has been unbeaten in the three rounds of competition, played to a draw against the higher rated International Master Mohamed Tissir.

Orlando Husbands, who returned to the line-up after sitting out Saturday’s 4-0 win against Cayman Islands, lost to fellow International Master Ilyass Msellek.

Olympiad debutants Justin Parsons and Adam Roachford, who both registered victories in the second round, lost to Adel Choukri and Yasser Hadj Kholti respectively.

On the women’s boards, Barbados, seeded at no. 111 out of 162 teams, were unable to avoid a clean sweep against 69^th rated Angola.

The team of Woman Candidate Master Katrina Blackman, Hannah Wilson, Kiara Eversley and Chanon Reifer Belle, which crushed Djibouti in the second round, lost against Woman International Master Esperanca Caxita, Woman FIDE Master Ednasia Junior, Woman FIDE Master Luzia Pires, and Renelsa Taiane Antonio respectively.

In Monday’s fourth round of games, Barbados’ Open team will face New Zealand, who are seeded at no. 92, while the women will be up against 80^th ranked Tajikistan. (BCF)