Claire Clarke, Contributor

Volume 2. No.5

Jamaican chess players were busy doing foreign duty last weekend, seniors and juniors alike with both outfits registering formidable results and getting invaluable international experience.

A squadron of juniors hailing from National Master Ryan Blackwood's Chess Whizz Kids, NM Adrian Palmer's Chess Enterprises, and Deborah Richards-Porter's R&D Chess donned national colours in the 14th annual Orange Bowl tournament in Florida. Hundreds of children participated in the tournament which was dominated by youngsters from America.

Full details on the performances of all the outfits that flew out were not available at press time, however, the Chess Whiz Kids had teams that finished first, second, third and fifth in regular and blitz chess tournaments that were played.

More senior players from two of the island's tertiary institutions, the University of the West Indies and the University of Technology were also off on national duties at the Pan American Intercollegiate Chess Championship at Princeton New Jersey.

This is the third time that UWI has sent a team to this tournament and this time the team of Miguel Asher, Paul Brooks, Zachary Ramsay and National Master Stuart James managed to equal their previous best score of 2.5 points.

Representing team UTECH which ended with one point were WCM Melisha Smith, National Women's Champion Krishna Gray, Davion Ferguson and Kareem Wright.

As promised last week, here are the names of other winners in other sections of the recently concluded Frederick Cameron Open held at the Spanish Court Hotel in December.

The best new player prize went to Khaled Shehab who ended with 4 points from five games. The best female player was won by National Women's Champion Krishna Gray. National Master Stuart James won the best junior player award while the best rural player went to Kevron Campbell.

In the intermediate section the top three finishers were Ajani Domville, Odane Hall, and Jerome Burford. Javany Green was adjudged the best under-12 player, the best under-14 player was Justin Lowe. The best female players in this section went to Akelia Donaldson, Aulanni Kidd and Yendi Foo, respectively.

Winners in the Amateur section were Nicolos Smith who achieved a perfect score followed by David Rose and Karl Graham who were tied on five points. Also ending on five points were Lindberg Simpson and Chevaughn Henry.

The top under-10 player went to Nicholas Lyn followed by Milan Simpson and Jordanne Stewart.

Other age group prizes included Kyle Forrester who was first in the under-eight section, followed by Linval Junio and Xander Grant. In the under-six section, top honours went to Craig Grant followed by Jaden-Tyler Gayle and Kennedy Brown. The best girls in the under-eight section were Milan Simpson, Jordanne Stewart and Soleil Simpson.

Next week, see ChessMate's report on young chess talent Rachel Miller and her amazing results on her recent exploits overseas.

Upcoming tournaments

John Powell Memorial Open: Last weekend in January or the first weekend in February, 2013

High School playoffs (rural and urban) resume: January 2013

Claire Clarke is a former Women's National Champion, three-time Jamaica Women's team Chess Olympiad representative, trained journalist and editor.

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