Husbands finishes eighth in Panama Chess Open

Barbados’ best chess player, international master Orlando Husbands, finished a commendable eighth at the recently concluded IV Panama Chess Open.

Husbands, who was ranked 12th in a very strong field that featured eight grandmasters and several other international masters, finished eighth on the tiebreak with six points from his nine matches.

He finished the tournament strongly, drawing with Panama’s candidate master Machado Mendez before defeating Carlos Neira also of Panama, in the final round.

The competition was won by international master Terry Renato of Peru, who played unbeaten to finish on 7.5 points, ahead of Spanish grandmaster Jose Cuenca Jimenez, who placed second on seven points.

Third place went to the highest-rated player in the tournament, grandmaster Johan- Sebastian Christiansen of Norway, who also ended on seven points. (RB)