FM Lorne represents at first Chess Zonal

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/fm-lorne-represents-at-first-chess-zonal_103961?profile=1511

 

 

 

Jamaica Fide Master (FM) Ras Malaku Lorne finished in 14th place out of 51 entrants at the Chess (Absolute) Zonals hosted in El Salvador from May 26 to 31.

FM Lorne finished with five points from nine games, after entering as the 24th seed.

International Master (IM) Joshua Daniel Castillo Ruiz and Cuban Grand Master (GM) Yuri Vidal Gonzales shared first place with 7.5 points, and thus both qualified for the FIDE World Cup 2017 in Georgia.

IM Terry Farley of Barbados was the only other player from the English-speaking Caribbean to participate in the tournament. IM Farley placed one place behind Lorne on tiebreak, having ended on the same number of points.

FM Lorne garnered four victories, two draws, and three losses, with his most notable victory coming in round two against the number 10 seed Nicaraguan, FM Rene Lacayo.

Going into the tournament, FM Lorne indicated that he didn't feel pressured at any time and as a minimum goal of qualifying for an IM norm, which would be a first step towards attaining the IM title. Despite not achieving the norm, Lorne felt he gained much from the experience, which is different from playing in local tournaments due mainly to the number of higher-rated opponents participating.

Lorne indicated that he intends to enter the American Continental next year in Uruguay, which is usually a well-supported event with a high level of competition.

Jamaica will host its first sub-zonal tournament in the first half of 2018, which will give many local players the opportunity to participate in an international event against highly rated international opponents.

Zonals are the first stage in qualifying to challenge for the World Championship.

 

FM RAS MALAKU LORNE OFF TO WINNING START AT THE ZONALS!

 

Jamaican FIDE Master (“FM”) Ras Malaku Lorne pawned off his historic Chess (Absolute) Zonals debut with a win against El Salvador’s Camilo Medrano in the first round held on Friday May 26 in El Salvador. In the second round scheduled for today (10 am local time) Lorne will have the black pieces against Nicaraguan FM Rene Lacayo.

Lorne, who arrived in El Salvador on Thursday May 25, 2017, is among fifty-one players from nine countries battling for a chance to qualify for the World Cup of Chess. The players include several Grandmasters led by the rating favourite Cuban Lazaro Bruzon.

The former Jamaica Junior Championand multiple Chess Olympian,qualified for this prestigious event by virtue of his outstanding performance at the 2016 Sub-Zonals in Barbados where he scored seven points from a possible nine to tie for second.

Other Jamaicans to play in the  Absolute Zonals are Devlin Sinclair (in the 1990s) and IM Jomo Pitterson who played in the 2011 event in the Dominican Republic after creating history by winning the 2010 Sub-Zonals in the Bahamas.
Lorne’s trip is sponsored by the Sports Development Foundation of Jamaica, the Kasparov Chess Foundation and the Jamaica Chess Federation, respectively.

Ian G. Wilkinson QC
President, Jamaica Chess Federation
2017 May 27

 

 

 

 

FM RAS MALAKU LORNE TO REPRESENT JAMAICA IN CHESS ZONALS IN EL SALVADOR

 

 

Fm Ras Malaku Lorne is currently  participating in the Zonal tournament in El Salvador from May 25- June 1. The  First round started on May  26th 2017.

Check out the links below to keep up to date with results as the tournament progresses.

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