The I.M. Kevin Denny Open came to an exciting conclusion over the weekend and Emar Edwards won the event in the last round to lead two other players Muralidhar Areti and Amari Blackett into the 2024 national chess championship final.

Going into the final round of the event, played on a glorious sunny evening at the Coles Building, Bay Street, Bridgetown, they were at least 5 players in the field who still had a chance of winning the event, far less moving forward to the finals later this year.

These players included the versatile Emar Edwards who led with 5 points from 6 games, while on four points were the top seed Muralidhar Areti, Cyprian La Touche who was the early leader in the field, wily veteran Othneil Yearwood and the unheralded Amari Blackett.

In the final round Edwards was pitted against the dangerous Harewood, while La Touche would have fancied himself against the junior Blackett and Areti played against current Under 9 scholastics  champion Jerimiah Farley. The overall final position would be determined by the results of these three games.

First it was Areti who put himself in contention when he gained the initiative against Farley and duly went on to record victory. Next it was Edwards who was pressing for victory against Harewood which he eventually achieved with some accurate play. All during this time, the veteran La Touche was building up a clear advantage against the junior Blackett and many pundits thought he would be the final one to join the aforementioned winners as the final qualifier for the 2024 national chess finals. However, in this battle of experience versus youth it was Blackett who would eventually turn the tables and record a memorable victory which would qualify him for his first national chess final. A devasted La Touche was left to rue his chances after having been an early leader in the event. Areti would also celebrate his first trip to the national chess finals.

Other results in the round saw victories for Chanon Reifer-Belle, Ronaldo Rochester, Derick Boyce and Alfred Sparman. Allan Herbert was held to a draw by Aaron Jaikaran.

When the dust had settled, it was Edwards who was the outright winner with 6 points, with Areti, second having edged Blackett on tie-break, with both a point behind Edwards. Reifer-Belle was the best female finisher on 4 ½ points from her 7 games, while Noah Clarke won the best Under 16 prize.