FIDE master Martyn Del Castilho has taken firm control of the 2025 national Open chess championship at the end of the fourth round which came to completion on Sunday at the Liberal Arts Gallery, Barbados Community College, this weekend.

Del Castilho defeated the then co-leader Justin Kirton in what was a top of the table clash to claim the sole overall lead with 4 points from his 4 games. Playing his favorite French defense opening Kirton could not withstand a determined Del Castilho who has his eyes sighted on retaining his national championship title.

Kirton now sits in clear second place in the 10-player field with three points from his four games, his only blemish being against the leader Del Castilho.

National Under 16 champion Noah Clarke is in third place with 2 ½ points. Clarke had a good Sunday at the event when he defeated Jsutin Parsons and Emar Edwards, two players who would have represented Barbados at recent chess Olympiads.

Mileke Sinckler, Ronaldo Rochester, Dr. Philip Corbin and Jeremiah Farley all share the 4th – 7th spot with two points. Farley, the youngest in the field at 11 years old, has shown great resilience so far. After losing both his opening games on the opening Saturday, he bounced back with two victories on Sunday including a massive upset against Emar Edwards. Parsons, Boris Thompson and Edwards round out the field in the 10- player , all play all event.

In an event that has so far seen many upsets, Del Castilho has been the one to keep his composure and with the other five games over the next weekend, it is difficult to see if anyone will be able to dethrone him of his crown.