Reifer-Belle wins Pan Am Youth rapid gold medal

Promising chess talent Chanon Reifer-Belle kept Barbados’ flag flying high by winning a gold medal at the Pan American Youth Rapid Online Championship recently.

Reifer-Belle took top honours in the Under-14 Girls’ division in the two-day event that was contested on May 21 and 22.

Playing in a merged section that included competitors in the Under-18, Under-16 and Under-14 divisions, the 12-year-old Reifer-Belle finished with four and a half out of a maximum nine points.

It was Reifer-Belle’s second podium finish at an international competition in recent months following her bronze medal in the Under-12 girls’ section in the Central American and Caribbean Youth Festival last November.

She will now focus her attention to the fast paced blitz segment of the Pan American Youth Championship this weekend.

Six other Barbadians competed in the Rapid competition that attracted 54 participants.

Aaron Jaikaran, playing in the Under-12 Open division, also finished with a creditable four and a half points. In the same category, Ephraim Hope managed two points and Alexander Berry one and a half.

Newcomer Nathan Simmons-Patterson secured four points in the Under-10 section while Jonathan Griffith ended with three and a half.

Melvin Terrence, competing in the Under-16 Open division, finished with two and a half points. (BCF)