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2017 YOUTH CHESS FESTIVAL OF CENTRAL AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN

 

The 2017 Youth Chess Festival of Central America and the Caribbean will be staged in Panama City, Panama between August 9 and August 17, 2017.  The CAC typically attracts Federations from all over the Americas, and was held last year in Caracas Venezuela. The tournament is a nine round Swiss (or Round Robin depending on number of participants) format, with pace of play at 90 minutes plus 30 second increments.  Trophies and Titles can be won in 12 age and gender categories.  In 2015, Jamaica sent a large contingent to Port of Spain Trinidad, and came away as the tournament champions.  Several young Jamaicans also gained FIDE titles.

See details in PDF Invitation here..

 

Jamaica Captures Bronze In CAC Team Chess

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/…/jamaica-captures-bronze-cac-te…

Jamaica secured the bronze trophy at the 16th Annual Central American and Caribbean Youth Chess Tournament, hosted in Panama, with a dramatic finish during the last round yesterday.

Entering the ninth and final round behind regional chess powerhouses Cuba and Colombia, and needing additional points to secure its podium spot, the Jamaican team delivered with scintillating performances across all divisions.

In seizing the coveted podium spot, Jamaica was first among CARICOM peers and ahead of countries with a longer and deeper chess tradition such as Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

Mikhail Solomon, National junior coach for these championships remarked "the Jamaican team overcame enormous odds in winning the Bronze Trophy. This just shows the tremendous wealth of talent we possess in addition to the intangible inheritance of confidence, grit, resilience and determination. We hope that this performance encourages additional support for Jamaican chess"

Christie seizes the individual silver medal in his category

Joshua Christie, the national under-16 champion led the team effort upstaging his more highly rated and arguably more experienced regional rivals over nine rounds of focused play. Christie won his final match yesterday, playing the French Defence and outmaneuvering his rival's Tarrasch structured response, to tally seven points from nine games. In doing so Christie seized the individual silver medal in his category for Jamaica.

Young Zaila O'Connor won bronze in the female under-8 section. She showed determination in overcoming a spell of tournament illness and in so doing contributed to team success.

Such was the competitiveness of the Jamaican team that several other Jamaicans just missed a medal spot by finishing a close fourth in their respective categories. These included Cameron Coe in Under-8 Absolute, CM David Thomas in Under-12 Absolute, WCM Adani Clarke in Under-14 Female, Lontae Walker in Under-14 Absolute and Raehanna Brown in Under-12 Female, all of whom finished just behind the podium positions in fourth spot. In addition, Gabriella Watson in the female under-10, CM Leighton Barrett in Under-14 Absolute and CM Rachel Miller in the female under-18 sections all finished in fifth position.

FM Warren Elliott, the eight-time national chess champion of Jamaica who accompanied the team in a coaching capacity, said "the depth of Jamaica's performance was remarkable. The consistency across divisions against well heeled opposition strongly suggests that there is a systemic approach to chess development in Jamaica that is working".

Other team coaches included WIM Deborah Richards-Porter and Odane Hall while Jamaica was represented by its national champions across 12 divisions and other highly rated local players.

The tournament was held in Panama City between August 9 to August 16.

 

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR THE JAMAICA CHESS FEDERATION
14 AUGUST 2017

CHRISTIE, CLARKE SHARE LEAD AT CAC YOUTH CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

 

Joshua Christie, the reigning National Under 16 Champion, in above picture

 

Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Adani Clarke, the reigning National Under 14 and Under 16 Girls National Champion, in above picture.

 

At the end of Round 6 of the 15th Central American and Caribbean Youth Chess Championships, currently taking place in Panama City, Panama, Jamaica’s National Under 16 Champion Joshua Christie, Christie is tied for first place in the Under 16 Championship with Cuban FIDE Master (FM) Raynner Amaro Alfonso. Both players are on five points and will face each other in the top of the table clash in Round 7.

Other Jamaican’s in the category include Jhustice-Dimonte McDonald on 3.5 tied for 9th and Raheem Glaves and Rashade Lungrin on 3 points each tied in 14th place. Trinidad and Tobago’s Mikel Martin is also on 3 points.

In the Under 14 Girls Championship, National Under 14 and Under 16 Champion Adani Clarke is on 4.5 points, tied for first place with four other players including top seed Cuba’s Penelope Gonzalez Diaz. Clarke will next face another of the co-leaders Cuba’s Maria Fernandez Malagon in Round 7.

Also competing in the category is Jamaica’s Aulanni Kidd who is tied in 12th place on 3 points. Pritika Kandamaran of Barbados is tied in 16th place with 2.5 points.

In the Under 8 Championship Jamaica’s National Under 8 Champion Cameron Coe is tied in fourth place with 4 points while teammate Christian Rampair is in 17th place on 2 points. Trinidad and Tobago’s Aiden Chaitram is tied in 9th place with 3 points. Leading the category is Venezuela’s Sebastian Merida Ceballos with 5.5 points.

In the Under 8 Girls Championship, Jamaica’s National Under 8 Girls Champion Zaina O’Connor is in fourth place with 2.5 points. Leading the category is Cuba’s Lorena Beatriz Montejo Bello with 5.5 points.

In the Under 10 Championship, Jamaica’s National Under 10 Champion Kishan Clarke and teammate Aidan Rampair are tied in 17th place with 3 points. Also competing is Jahvier Grant with 2 points in 25th place. Trinidad and Tobago’s Junhino Le Fleur is tied in 9th place with 3.5 points. Leading the category is Cuba’s Yaset Jose Cruz Santos with 5.5 points.

In the Under 10 Girls Championship, Gabrielle Watson and National Under 10 Champion Laila Griffiths are tied in 6th place with 3.5 points. Jaya-Rene Richards and Teriesha-Lee Thompson are tied in 10th place on 3 points each. Leading the category is Cuba’s Aliett Valdes Boza with 5 points.

In the Under 12 Championship, National Under 12 Champion and CARIFTA Under 12 Champion Candidate Master (CM) David Thomas is tied in 5th place with CM Sandiford Leigh of Barbados on 4 points. Also competing are Mikhail Bond in 19th place on 3 points, Addison Abrahams in 21st place on 2.5 and Romaine Walters in 25th place with 2. The category leader is Cuba’s Jean Marco Cruz Mendez on 5.5 points.

In the Under 12 Girls Championship, Jamaica’s National Under 12 Girls Champion Raehanna Brown is tied in 4th place with Barbadian Vanessa Greenidge on 4 points. CARIFTA Under 12 Girls Champion Johmoi Blake is tied in 6th on 3.5 points. Trinidad and Tobago’s Zara La Fleur is 10th with 3 points. Leading the category is Cuba’s Ingry Tornes Rosquet. 

In the Under 14 Championship, Jamaican’s CM Leighton Barrett and Lontae Walker are tied in third place with 4.5 points each. National Under 14 Champion Nicholas Lyn is tied in 6th on 4 points, Angelus-Seren McDonald is tied in 9th with 3.5 and Shaheem Richards is tied 16th place with 3 points. Leading the Championship are Cuban FM Jerzy Jesus Perez Leiva and Trinidad and Tobago’s Alan-Safar Ramoutar on 5 points each.

In the Under 16 Girls Championship, Jamaica’s Rochelle Porter is tied in 4th place with 3.5 points, National Under 18 Champion Ashanti Blackwood is tied in 7th on 3 points and Alliyah Yankana is tied in 9th on 2.5 points with Trinidad and Tobago’s Amy Ali. Despite being under 18 Champion, Blackwood qualified for this category due to her age. Leading the category is Cuban Woman Candidate Master (WFM) Roxangel Obregon Garcia on 5.5 points.

In the Under 18 Championship, National Under 18 Champion, Akeem Brown is tied in 14th place with 2.5 points. Trinidad and Tobago’s FM Joshua Johnson is tied in 6th place on 3.5 points. Leading the Championship is Colombia’s Jose Gabriel Cardoso Cardoso with 5.5 points.
In the Under 18 Girls Championship, Jamaican Woman FIDE Master (WFM) Rachel Miller is tied in 5th place with 3.5 points, while teammate Davica Chambersis in 14th place on 2 points. Gariela Cumberbatch of Barbados is tied in 9th place with 3 points. Leading the category Cuban WFM Chrissye Gonzalez Estrada with 4.5 points.

END

Photo 1 - National Under 16 Champion Joshua Christie tied for first in the Under 16 Championship after 6 rounds.
Photo 2 - National Under 14 and Under 16 Girls Champion Adani Clarke is tied for first in the Under 14 Girls Championship.

 

 

SPORTS PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR THE JAMAICA CHESS FEDERATION
4 AUGUST 2017

LARGE DELEGATION FOR CAC CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

On August 8, 2017, the country's top junior chess players will leave from the Norman Manley International Airport to participate in the 15th Central American and Caribbean Youth Chess Festival (CAC), scheduled to take place in Panama City, Panama, between August 9 and August 15.

Jamaica made history in 2015 by winning the Championship trophy when the tournament was held in Port of Spain, Trinidad. This was the first time an English-speaking country had won the event.

This year a delegation of 52 Jamaicans including 34 players, 14 parents and 4 coaches will be joining what is expected to be the largest, and possibly most competitive, CAC Championship ever held, comprising nine rounds of competitive chess within twelve categories, from Under 8 to Under 18.

The Head of Delegation for the Jamaican contingent and Chair of the Jamaica Chess Federation’s (JCF’s) Junior Chess Committee, National Master (NM) Mikhail Solomon, is optimistic about the team's chances to repeat the success of 2015.

"With our 12 national champions and another 22 additional strong players going to this year’s CAC, I have extremely high hopes for the Jamaican team. While the standard of chess will be very high at this tournament, I have every confidence that some of our players will shine on the international stage. At the very least, this will be a good learning experience for all the players, as many will be travelling overseas to compete for the first time. Facing the region’s best over the board is critical in developing the standard of chess locally,” explained NM Solomon.

Mr Ian Wilkinson QC, President of the JCF, remarked “This is the largest contingent of chess players we have ever assembled to participate in an overseas event. It is really encouraging to see how chess is growing locally, and how much enthusiasm surrounds the development of our junior players. Attendance of our team at the 2017 CAC gives our young, promising players the opportunity to compete with the best in the Caribbean and Central America, and fits well with the JCF's objectives of developing Jamaica's Chess for the future."

Key Players to watch:

 

Akeem Brown- Reigning National U 18 Champion

Ø Akeem Brown, the reigning National Under 18 Champion, will represent Jamaica in the Under 18 section in above picture

 

 

CM Rachel Miller, former Women's National Champion

Ø Candidate Master (CM) Rachel Miller, overseas based former Women’s National Champion and multiple National Junior Girls Champion, will represent Jamaica in the Under 18 Girls section.

 

(WCM) Adani Clarke, the reigning National U 14 and U 16 Girls National Champion

Ø Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Adani Clarke, the reigning National Under 14 and Under 16 Girls National Champion, will represent Jamaica in the Under 14 Girls section.

 

Ashanti Blackwood, reigning National Champion for Under 18 Girls

Ø Ashanti Blackwood, reigning National Champion for Under 18 Girls, will play in the U16 Girls section.

 

Joshua Christie, the reigning National Under 16 Champion

Ø Joshua Christie, the reigning National Under 16 Champion, will play in the Under 16 section.

 

Nicholas Lyn, reigning Under 14 National Champion

Ø Nicholas Lyn, reigning Under 14 National Champion, will represent Jamaica in the Under 14 section.

 

Johmoi Blake, reigning Carifta Champion for the Under 12 Girls

Ø Johmoi Blake, reigning Carifta Champion for the Under 12 Girls will play in the Under 12 Girls Section.

 

Rahaenna Brown, reigning Girls Under 12 National Champion, and former U 14 National Champion

 

Ø Rahaenna Brown, reigning Under 12 Champion, who has also won the u 12 girls National Champion title once before, and is a former U 14 girls National Champion,will play in the Under 12 Girls Section.

 

CM David Thomas, reigning Carifta U 12 Champion and National U 12 National Champion

Ø CM David Thomas, reigning Carifta Under 12 Champion and National Under 12 National Champion, will play in the Under 12 Section.

 

Kishan Clarke, current National Under 10 Champion

Ø Kishan Clarke, current National Under 10 Champion, will play in the Under 10 section. Ø Laila Griffiths, the National Under 10 Girls Champion, will play in the Under 10 section for Girls.

 

Laila Griffiths, the National Under 10 Girls Champion,

 

Ø Laila Griffiths, the National Under 10 Girls Champion, will play in the Under 10 section for Girls.

Cameron Coe, two-time National Under 8 Champion

Ø Cameron Coe, two-time National Under 8 National Champion, will play in the Under 8 section.

Ø Zaina Oconnor, two-time National Under 8 Girls National Champion, will play in the Under 8 section for Girls.

The Junior Chess Team’s participation in the 2017 Central American and Caribbean Chess Festival has been made possible with the support of the Jamaica Chess Federation, its sponsors the Sports Development Foundation, Prime Sports and the Kasparov Chess Foundation and chess friends and family members.

END

For interviews or for further information you may call NM Mikhail Solomon at 298-8085.