Bajan players shine during CARIFTA Chess Championships

Barbados produced another impressive showing at the CARIFTA Chess Championships, with FIDE Master Hannah Wilson capturing the Under-18 girls’ title and Charis Stuart claiming runner-up honours in the Under-14 Open division.

Competing from July 11-12, Wilson topped a 35-player field with seven points from nine games to secure the championship, while Stuart finished second among 66 players after scoring seven and a half points from his nine matches.

In the Under 12 Open category, Jeremiah Farley finished in a five way tie for first, but had to settle for 2nd place on the tie-break.  Fellow Barbadian Nia-Snow Clarke finished on five points to be fifth in the Under 10 category, while Raef Clarke was 3rd in the Under 8 Open section with six points. 

In the Open competition for the seniors, Emar Edwards was the team’s lone representative, while Fide master Hannah Wilson and candidate master Chanon Reifer-Belle competed in the ladies section.

Woman Fide master Hannah Wilson finished second in the female open section and won the Under 18 section. (Photo Credit: KD)

Chanon Reifer-Belle placed third in the female open section. (Photo Credit: KD)

The pair was closely matched, with Wilson finishing in second place just ahead of Reifer-Belle on the tie-break, after both players scored seven points from their nine games. Both ladies will next be in action during the Central American and Caribbean games in the Dominican Republic from July 25 – 28.

In the Open section, Edwards finished 20th in a field of 101 players.

The games were deemed as a success by organisers, with approximately 500 participants from 114 countries competing.

The hybrid competition saw the event being played online, with participants from each country competing from a dedicated site under the supervision of an arbiter.

(KH)