Barbados’ Open team ends with victory at Chess Olympiad

Barbados’ Open team rounded off their campaign with a comfortable victory over Cameroon on the final day of the 44^th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India on Tuesday.

The Bajan men won 3-1 to complete their fifth victory in 11 rounds that ensured they finished above their seeding at the beginning of the tournament.

Ranked 124^th out of 188 teams, Barbados ended in 110^th after defeating 162^nd ranked Cameroon at the Sheraton Mahabalipuram Resort and Convention Centre.

FIDE Master Justin Blackman registered his sixth victory by defeating International Master Marius Amba Oyon on the way to finishing with eight out of a maximum 11 points – half-point more than his performance at the 2018 Olympiad when he was also Barbados’ most outstanding player.

Olympiad first-timers Justin Parsons and Emar Edwards also rounded off with wins to complete satisfying debuts. Parsons won against Bleriot Metuno Kuete to end with six points from ten games, while Edwards prevailed over Loic Zebaze Dongmo to finish with four and a half points from ten games.

Barbados’ top rated player, International Master Orlando Husbands defaulted his game due to dental challenges that affected him for most of the tournament in which he finished with two and a half points from eight games.

For the fifth successive day, there were mixed fortunes for Barbados as the Women’s team lost 2.5-1.5 to the higher rated Monaco.

Gaybrianna Moore pulled off her third straight win against a higher rated opponent, overcoming Woman International Master Julia Lebel-Arias  to register the only victory for 111^th rated Barbados against 84^th rated Monaco.

Reigning national ladies champion Hannah Wilson, 13, played to a draw against Woman Candidate Master Svetlana Berezovska to finish with five and a half points, the most by a Barbadian female.

There were defeats for five-time national ladies champion Woman Candidate Master Katrina Blackman and Kiarra Eversley, who returned to the line-up in place of Chanon Reifer-Belle. Blackman lost to Woman International Master Martine Dubois and Eversley went under to Fiorina Berezovsky.

Blackman finished with four and a half points, Eversley four, Reifer-Belle three and a half and Moore three.

Barbados’ Women, who completed four team wins from their 11 games, placed 113^th out of 162 teams. (BCF)