Barbados cop bronze at CARICOM chess tournament

Barbados’ chess quartet finished a commendable third when the CARICOM Classic Chess concluded over the weekend in Guyana.

Needing to defeat St Lucia in their final game to have a chance of medaling, the Barbados team of Emar Edwards, Fide master Dr Phillip Corbin, women’s candidate master Katrina Blackman and Hannah Wilson emerged victorious 3.5 – 0.5 to secure the bronze medal.

Edwards defeated Nicholas Arvin, Blackman overcame Tris-Ann Richards and Wilson was victorious over Chelsea Wahid, while Dr Corbin drew with Justin James.

It helped Barbados to finish on 14 points after nine rounds of competition, the same as second placed Guyana 1, which secured the silver medal on the tiebreak.

Trinidad and Tobago played unbeaten throughout the inaugural tournament and were the runaway winners with 18 points.

It was an especially impressive performance by Barbados’ female players.

Blackman played unbeaten throughout the competition, registering five wins and four draws, while Wilson won eight and lost a solitary game.