Kemp Lynch held on to win the 2023 Michael Forde Memorial chess tournament in exciting fashion when he edged out Justin Parsons and Chris White on tie-break after all three players finished on 5 ½ points from a possible 7 over the weekend at the Coles Building, Bay Street, Bridgetown.

Going into the last round of the event, Lynch led the field with 5 ½ points for his 6 games, but faced a tough opponent in Renaldo Rochester who is fresh off victory in the XIV IRT Híbrido del Sur U1800 hybrid chess tournament.

White faced the veteran Cyprian La Touche and Parsons faced Jacob Layson. Based on ratings, it was expected by all pundits that Lynch, White and Parsons would all secure comfortable victories. However, the script is not always so simple.

Parsons was the first to achieve victory as Layson was a no show. Disaster then befell Lynch as he found himself under some pressure out of the opening, and this continued increase in pressure was too much for him to bare and he eventually succumbed to defeat. White on seeing this, then made a heroic effort as he outlasted La Touche in a difficult ending, where La Touche possibly missed some drawing chances.

With these results, it was up to the tie-break to decide the winner and Lynch was declared winner, followed by Parsons and White in that order. Rochester finished in fourth with 5 points.

Other last round results saw wins for Lawrence Depradine, Leshay Springer and Charis Stuart, while Travis Grant and Mileke Sinckler drew their match.