Bajan chess players got the new year off to a rousing start when two local players Loki Clarke and Jerimiah Farley won their categories in the XIV IRT Híbrido de Las Américas hybrid chess event played over the last weekend.

A hybrid chess event is one where players compete from a central location and play via an online chess platform under the supervision of a chess referee.

Clarke captures Open Section

Loki Clarke went into the Open section of the event as the 15th ranked player in the field of 27 players representing the countries of Venezuela, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Barbados. Clarke however made his intentions clear from the first round when he defeated the 2nd highest ranked player in the form of Christian Gabriel Allen Leydenz of Venezuela. He then racked up victories against two more Venezuelan opponents, before falling to Armando Jose Zanella Gonzalez also of Venezuela in round 4. Loki then regained his winning ways and by the final and 7th round, he was one of three players who led with 5 points from 6 matches. In this winner takes all round, Clarke would face fellow Bajan Adam Roachford, while the other co-leader Armando Jose Zanella Gonzalez of Venezuela was matched against veteran Terrence Lindo of Jamaica.

A quick draw ensued between Gonzalez and Lindo, and this would immediately mean that the winner of the Bajan clash would take the event. It was a hard-fought battle, but when Loki was able to exchange two minor pieces for a rook, it was Loki who was slightly ahead in the game. With his combative style Loki pushed for victory and eventually Roach would succumb to defeat to his lower rated opponent. It was a memorable victory for Loki as he not only won the event but defeated 6 players who were initially higher rated than him.

Of the other 6 Bajans in this part of the event Roachford was the best in third place, with 5 points.

Farley takes the Under 10 section.

Jerimiah Farley dominated the Under 10 section with 6 points from his 7 games in a masterful display of chess from the other Venezuelan and Peruvian players in his section. He missed a round due to previous engagement, but his play showed a level of tactical awareness beyond that of his opponents. If he keeps on his development trajectory, he will no doubt become a very competent player. He is currently being exposed to special training provided by the world governing chess body FIDE, and this hopefully will see him improving more quickly.

In the Under 16 section of the event, Noah Clarke finished in 4th place in a small 8 player field consisting of players form Venezuela, Peru and St. Lucia also with three and a half points. He started with two victories but struggled in the middle of the event, suffering three consecutive defeats.

Barbados had two players in the under 14 section of the event. Mileke Sinckler missed some opportunities to finish midfield in the 25-player event with three and a half points, while Isaiah Acher finished slightly behind on three points.

Overall, the event had 88 players participating in the 5 sections and representing 6 countries from the Caribbean and South America. Such events allow Bajan players to get regional competition without having to seek airfare and accommodation to attend overseas events.