Clarke wins Under 14 section in Online chess event

Barbados had just over a dozen players participating in the five sections of the IRT Híbrido Iberoamericano U1800 2023 online hybrid chess event, but it was Noah Clarke playing in the Under 14 section who would be the only Bajan winner of a section. A hybrid event is one where players play online via a chess playing platform, but all from one place under the supervision of an arbiter or chess referee.

Clarke was the top-rated player in his section and after the first three games played on the first day of the six-round event, he was the sole leader with two and a half points. On the second day Clarke duly repeated the results to finish in clear first place on five points from six games, having won four and drawn two against Miguel Andres Perez Marcano and Aranza Victoria Luzardo Lopez, both of Venezuela.

Other Barbadian players in this section did not fare as well with Mileke Sinckler scoring three points and Isiah Archer two.

Farley second in Under 10 Section

Barbados suffered heartache in the Under 10 section, where Jerimiah Farley was edged into second spot on the tie-break, after three players Julieta Cachihuango Giraldo, Martin Aristizabal Melguiso, both from Colombia and Farley all finished on 4 ½ points from 6. Giraldo was the winner with Melguiso in third.

What was tragic was that up to round four, the two Bajan players in this section, Farley and Charis Stuart were the two players out front with three and a half points. However, both players suffered defeat in round five to allow the rest of the field to catch up. Farley recovered with a win in round six to stay a contender, but Stuart slipped further down the field as he suffered another defeat.

In the Under 12 section, Kayla Culpepper, our sole representative, found the going tough and finished down the field with two points. The section was won by  Angel Guevara Garcia Miguel of Colombia with five points.

In the Under 16 section, Loki Clarke finished with three points and came in the middle of the field, while Leshay Springer finished further down the field.

In the Open section, where Barbados was represented by at least five players, Lawrence Depradine was the top local finisher in fifth spot with four points in the almost 20 player section. Depradine would feel slightly disappointed as he let some winning positions slip, which could have led to a higher placing.

Overall, the five sections of the event had 60 players from Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, St Lucia and Barbados participating. These types of events give local players an opportunity to get experience against other regional players and in the mew Year the Barbados Chess Federation will continue to facilitate the participation of local players.

(KD/PR)