Barbados chess teams making moves at CAC Games in El Salvador

After two of the three days of the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games Rapid chess championships being played in El Salvador, the Barbados teams continue to put in a creditable performance.

The tournament is played with an Open and female section, in a rapid format with each team being made up of 2 members. They are 16 qualified teams per section with each team having to play all the others with a fixed board order.

After 10 of the 15 rounds, the Barbados Open team featuring international master Orlando Husbands and FIDE master Martyn Del Castilho are in 7th position with 11 points out of a possible 20. Both players have scored 5 ½ points from their 10 games so far. They have won 5 or their matches, defeating the likes of Trinidad, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Honduras, and a pleasing 2 – 0 victory over the host El Salvador.

Both players have shown gritty determination, and this was especially seen when Husbands held the highest rated player in the event Cuban grandmaster Carlos Daniel Albornoz to a draw in round 9.

The ladies’ team of Hannah Wilson and Julissa Figueroa have also been holding their own in the event. After 10 matches, they currently sit in 9th position from the 16 teams with 7 points. They have won two matches against Jamaica and Dominican Republic and drawn against Panama, Costa Rica, and the mighty Cuban team.

The draw against Cuba was facilitated by Julissa Figueroa, who defeated woman grandmaster Yerisbel Llanes Miranda, the highest rated female in the event. In an exciting game that went down to an endgame, Julissa showed better technique in a dynamic position to secure a memorable victory. This has been the only blemish on Miranda’s record as she has scored 9 points out of 10 so far.

So far in the event, Colombia leads in the Open section with 17 points, a half point ahead of Venezuela, while Cuba leads the female section also with 17 points, also a half point ahead of Puerto Rico.