Richards tops Robert Wheeler Chess Open

Jamaica and the English-speaking Caribbean's top female chess player, Woman FIDE Master (WFM) Deborah Richards, successfully defended her Robert Wheeler Chess Open title in the competition at Jamaica College last weekend.

Richards lost her last-round match to National Master Mikhail Solomon, which left her tied with three other players on 4.5 points atop the standings. However, Richards was adjudged the winner after the first tiebreaker system was employed.

National Master Peter Myers ended second, while National Master Solomon took third ahead of National Master Brandon Wilson.

The intermediate category, for players with a Jamaica Chess Federation (JCF) rating below 1,600, was won by Ardenne High's rising star, Jonathan Orgill of the Whiz Kidz Chess Club. Orgill stamped his class on the field by securing a perfect six points from six games.

Second went to Jermaine McDonald, who ended on 4.5, while third place was shared by Horace Sinclair and Junior Green, who each finished on four.

The amateur section, for players with a JCF rating below 1,200, was won by Jorie Japp, who finished with four points from five matches. Dominic Duys had a similar score, but was relegated to second on a tiebreak. Third went to Rochelle Porter, with two points.

Awards

A number of category prizes were awarded as follows: best expert - Sahir Abbas; best in Class A, Shreyas Smith; best in Class B, Brandon Campbell; and best in Class D, Rosemarie Kent.

The age-group prizes went to Malik Buchanan, best Under-10 and Under-12 awards, respectively; Horace Sinclair, best Under-14 title. The awards for the best junior players were won by Shreyas Smith (Corporate Area) and Mikhail Solomon, who took home the best rural player title. Best female was WFM Deborah Richards, and Junior Green was the best new player.