Strong start for Barbados at regional chess championships

Five Barbados chess players are currently participating in the Subzone 2.3.3 Absolute and Female Chess Championships 2025 being played in Trinidad and Tobago over this week at the Cascadia Hotel.

The tournament is a 9-round event being played as separate Open and female events whereby the winner of each separate event will progress to the 2025 World Cup, which is a qualifier for the world chess championship. All the English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean countries, along with Haiti are invited to take part.

Barbados is represented in the open section by international master Orlando Husbands, candidate master Justin Parsons and Emar Edwards. There are 96 players from 15 countries participating.

Husbands is the top-rated player in the event and after the first day, he is one of the leaders after two victories. He defeated Jayden Foreshaw of Jamaica and Kael Samuel-Bisnath of Trinidad.

Edwards has one and a half point so far, having defeated Gennard Roberts of Grenada and drawn with Kaieem Elizee of St. Lucia.

Parsons had a fair day with a victory over Arthur Superville of Trinidad in round one, before going down to FIDE master Joshua Christie of Jamaica.

Other favorites to win their first two games included the second ranked FIDE master Joshua Johnson of Trinidad, Christie and Kevin Cupid of Trinidad.

Chanon Reifer-Belle (right front), with Hannah Wilson (second at left).

In the female section Barbados’s representatives are woman FIDE master and current national champion Hannah Wilson and woman candidate master Chanon Reifer-Belle. They are the third and fourth ranked players in the 27-player field with representatives from 13 countries.

Wilson won her first two matches against Adaya Johnson of Trinidad and Chika Pride of the Bahamas. Reifer-Belle started well with a victory over Jessica Callender of Guyana but then fell to an upset defeat to Samantha Dolly of Trinidad.

Other favorites doing well with two victories, also include Ysvett Hermoso Rodriguez of Trinidad and woman FIDE master Polina Karelina of the Bahamas.

The Bajans will look to keep the local flag high as the participate during the week. (KD)