Del Castilho lead Philip Corbin Open Chess Event

Barbados bounced back on the second day of the 2024 Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary with two commanding victories after suffering defeats in their opening matches.

The female team of women candidate masters Hannah Wilson, Katrina Blackman, Chanon Reifer-Belle and Kiarra Eversley all registered victories in their games to sweep the St. Lucian ladies team 4 – 0.

Current national female champion Katrina Blackman was the first to record victory against Chelsea Wahid, while top juniors Hannah Wilson and Chanon Reifer-Belle followed quickly against Mila Lui and Vernesa  James. Kiarra Eversley then brought home the whole hog when she defeated Shekinah Leonce.

The Barbados Open team of Fide master Justin Blackman, Kemp Lynch, Emar Edwards and Lawrence Depradine were just as impressive in their sweep of the U.S. Virgin Islands team.

Emar Edwards served notice early as he won a piece almost out of the opening in his game  against Abram Williams and duly won. Fide master Justin Blackman then recorded victory against Allen Daryl. The other two games were much longer affairs but Kemp Lynch and Lawrence Depradine in his first outing at this level won endgames to see Barbados record a comprehensive victory.

Barbados 4 – 0 USVI.

The Open team is currently lies in 101st  position of the 194 teams participating, with only Trinidad as the only English-speaking Caribbean team that lies  ahead of us. In the female section the team lies in joint 62nd from 180 teams. The  other top English-speaking Caribbean team Jamaica holds down a similar position.

In round three, the Open team will have a tough match against  Zambia, while the women team will play Bangladesh.