Rowe on target for FM title

Claire Clarke, Contributor

Volume 1. No.12

From Kingston to Gibraltar, Candidate Master Duane Rowe participated in one of the larger chess tournaments in the world attracting hundreds of the world's strongest players, the Tradewise Chess Festival in Gibraltar, and served himself up a third-place spot in his section.

This is an impressive performance from one of Jamaica's strongest players in the modern era of the game. CM Rowe added the scalp of Israeli International Master Danny Raznikov in the final round of the tournament, which had an overall prize funds equivalent to J$21 million.

CM Rowe, who earned his CM title last year, is a four-time Jamaican National Champion and member of the Jamaica Olympiad team six times. With his passion for the game, CM Rowe flew across to the 10-year-old Tradewise Chess Festival in Gibraltar from January 23 to February 2, 2012, as he puts it, "to have fun".

"I love playing chess; it gives me much joy," said CM Rowe. "I also wanted the opportunity to play against some strong players and to raise my elo, with the milestone of reaching 2300 and acquiring the FM title. Overall, I made 38 elos from the tournament, which should put me at 2274. So only 26 elos left to reach the target!" he added.

Should CM Rowe achieve his goal he will increase Jamaica's internationally titled players by joining FM Grantel Gibbs (retired), FM Warren Elliot, FM Shane Matthews, IM Jomo Pitterson and Grand Master Maurice Ashley (who grew up in the US and has never represented Jamaica as a player in an international tournament).

But CM Rowe can see himself with the big title in front of his name and is taking the steps, he said. "I set the goal to become an IM within the next five years. I believe this is both reasonable and feasible. Ultimately, I believe I have the potential to attain the GM title."

The challenges for CM Rowe to become a GM, however, are real and tough. These constraints are money, time and the foundation culture of playing high volumes of chess as a junior.

"Without the luxury of being able to just travel and play in many 'strong' tournaments, this (the GM title) is not foreseeable in the near future. The legendary GM Nigel Short - the eventual tournament winner (Tradewise Chess Festival Gibraltar 2012) - in explaining to me what one needs to do to become a GM, pointed out that he was playing some 180 games per year when he was 10 years old. Another person told me that the world number one, GM Magnus Carlsen, was playing 200!"

However, the 40th Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey, this summer could provide at least ample opportunity for CM Rowe to access the 26 points he needs to get to his FM title. But will he play?

"If the JCF were to offer me the opportunity to represent Jamaica at the Olympiad, I would definitely accept. However, I duly understand that the federation has its process for Olympiad teams selection that includes the requirement of playing in the Nationals. And, if I am not able to meet this requirement, I totally accept not being considered."

CM Rowe lives overseas.

The first of National Master's Peter Myers' predictions has been fulfilled. Glenmuir High School out of Clarendon will defend their rural high-school title next weekend against St Jago High School from St Catherine. These are the only two schools left standing after last weekend's semi-final matchups where St Jago High 'A' blanked Manning's 'A' 4-0 and Glenmuir High spanked Titchfield High 3.5 to 0.5.

Today, the urban semis will be played, where Calabar High meet Excelsior High and Camperdown High meet Campion College 'A'. NM Myers picks: Calabar High and Campion College 'A'.

Next week, ChessMate Analysis will feature Rowe's victory over the Israeli International Master.

ChessMate Glossary

This week, we continue going through the symbols used in game notation. It is a unique move that is often not taught to some players as it does not as a standard present itself on the board. It is called the en passant (direct translation - in passing). A move possible only by a pawn is written on score sheets as e.p.

Upcoming tournaments

February 17: The semi-finals of the urban high school tournament - venue Kingston College.

February 25: The finals of the urban and rural high school tournament

Email feedback, send in your games or upcoming tournaments to yourchessmate@yahoo.comand join the facebook page chessmate. Claire Clarke is a former Women's National Champion, three-time Jamaica Women's team Chess Olympiad representative, trained journalist and editor.