Bajan chess players began to shine in the lower sections of the 2026 SITTU Barbados Open chess championship as action began for them and continued for the top section at the Barbados Beach Club hotel in Maxwell, Christ Church.

The event is broken into to four sections, A – D, based on a players rating.
In Section C, three Bajan players share the lead as Aaron Jaikaran, Loki Clarke and Savion Little all have three points from their three matches so far. In their round three matches, Jaikaran defeated Gennard Roberts of Grenada, Savion Little won from Bijan Ziaian of Canada, while Loki Clarke got past Jefferson Farley. These three players sit atop the 26 players in this section but players like Kiarra Eversley who sits ½ point behind will still feel they are in with a chance at claiming the top prize in these early stages.

In Section D, 6 local players share the lead in the almost 50 player field. These are Derick Boyce, Nathan Simmons-Patterson, Harry Shepherd, Conrad Brits, Che Yearwood and Rene Lashley. When the 4th round match ups occur, it will be interesting to see which of these players will be still on the maximum points. Another 13 players are just off the pace with 2 points and will still be in the hunt for the top spot in this section.

In Section B, Fide Master Jose Mora Moron of Venezuela is in the sole lead with 3 points from the 3 games completed so far. His round 3 victory over local boy Emar Edwards placed him into the sole lead and has made him the favorite to capture this section.

Sitting in second place is Noah Clarke on 2 ½ points and his next clash with Mora Moron will decide the leader and possible winner of this section. Edwards along with Lawrence Depradine, young Jeremiah Farley, Justin Parsons and Guyanese Taffin Khan are in joint third with two points and will be hoping for favorable results in their next games to move up in the 18-player field in this section

In the top Section A, grandmaster Shawn Rodrigue-Lemieux of Canada continues to dominate. He has garnered 4 ½ points for his 5 games so far and seems determined to repeat as champion this year.

Sitting in joint second to fourth are Shawn’s fellow countryman international masters Aaron Reeves Mendez and Mark Plotkin along with Trinidad’s Fide master Joshua Johnson. These players all have 3 ½ points and will need the leader to lose form if they are to surpass him. The top positioned local player in the 10-player field is international master Orlando Husbands in 6th spot with 2 ½ points.

The action will climax this Sunday with games at 10.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m.