It was a day of mixed fortunes on day 4 of the 2024 Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary for Team Barbados.
The ladies’ team of Hannah Wilson, Katrina Blackman, Chanon Reifer-Belle and Leshay Springer on the day recorded a 3 ½ – ½ victory against Mauritius.
Reifer-Belle was the first to record victory as she pressed home a queen-side attack against her opponent Aamirah Becky and eventually was able to win a piece causing her opponent to resign.
Leshay Springer then had to battle to a draw on board four against Stephanie Lee You Voon, even though Springer was a pawn down in the end game.
Next, national female champion Katrina Blackman who had won a piece early in her game was able to defeat Preetisha Devi Gungadoo. On board one, top junior Hannah Wilson won from Chethanah Andhin after a lengthy battle. This was a good bounce back for the local team as they had gone down to Bangladesh 3 ½ – ½ in round 3.
In the Open section of the event, the team of Fide master Justin Blackman, Kemp Lynch, Emar Edwards and Lawrence Depradine went under 1-3 to the team of Uganda. Blackman won his match by default, the other three players put up a spirited performance, especially Edwards who was on the brink of a memorable victory before succumbing to defeat against Haruna Nsubuga.
Final overall results for all teams were not available as of publishing, but the Barbados women’s team will be moving up the tables in the almost 190 country field. (KD)
