Trinidad and Tobago show up at World Chess Olympiad

Trinidad and Tobago recently participated in the World Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India, over the period July 27 to August 9.

A TT Chess Association statement said that after 11 rounds of play, the Absolute team finished in 80th place (initial ranking of 91/187) and a match score of 12 (greater than 50 per cent) for the very first time with five wins, two draws.

The team placed second in the Caribbean to the much higher-ranked Cuba. The female team, however, which had three debutants, ended in 107th place (initial ranking of 117/161) and a match score of ten with four wins, two draws.

In the Absolute event, the top performances came from FM Adrian Atwell with 5.5 out of 8 (Board 5), followed by FM Joshua Johnson with 6.5 out of 10 (Board 2), and Isaiah Mc Intosh with 6 out of 10 ( Board 3).

Other noteworthy results include the draw by Mc Intosh against grandmaster Sumiya Biluun (Mongolia) in round two and a win against international master Frank Asiku (Albania) in round seven.

In round 11, FIDE (International Chess Federation) masters (FM) Ryan Harper and Joshua Johnson secured draws against Mexican grandmasters Gilberto Hernandez Guerrero and Luis Fernando Ibarra Chami respectively.

In the women's event, the top performance came from Zara La Fleur, with seven out of 11, followed by Amy Ali with 3.5 out of seven, both earning women candidate master (WCM) titles.

Notable results also came from WCM Shemilah James with a draw against woman FIDE master (WFM) Chiara Polterauer from Austria in round one and a win by La Fleur in round 11 against woman international master (WIM) Knarik Mouradian of Lebanon.

During this period in India, local chess president Sonja Johnson was presented with the Outstanding Chess Administrator award during the Inaugural Year of the Woman in Chess Awards 2022 which was held at the Leela Palance in Chennai.

The TTCA president was elated at the results.

“The performances of the teams were really amazing. India proved to be a challenge given the sudden change in venue from Moscow in March 2022 and so there was a lot to get done in terms of preparation within a limited timeframe.

“To see the Absolute (male) team end their last round with that draw against Mexico which was higher-rated with two GMs and an IM, gives us encouragement in the standard of performance with our top players,” she said.

“The females also performed quite well despite having a couple of new persons to chess overall, and in one case a team member only learning the game in 2021. This speaks volumes about their commitment and maturity to play on a world stage.”

The eldest female player for TT was Amy Ali, 20, who obtained a conditional WCM title. The youngest player, La Fleur, 15, also topped the field.

“I am indeed so proud of both teams and give kudos to the head of delegation Sandy Razark (TTCA secretary), the captains, and coaches who were relentless in their efforts to ensuring that team TT achieved its objectives.”

TT teams

Absolute – Keelan Hunte (captain), FM Ryan Harper, FM Joshua Johnson, FM Isaiah Mc Intosh, FM Allan Munro, FM Adrian Winter-Atwell, coach IM Jop Delemarre (Netherlands)

Women – FM Kevin Cupid (captain/coach) Zara La Fleur (WCM conditional), WCM Shemilah James, Amy Ali, Celine Mohammed, Kayla Martin, CM Frank Sears (assistant coach/captain).

Head of delegation – Sandy Razark

FIDE delegate – Sonja Johnson