Aided by funding from major sponsor Commonwealth Brewery’s Vitamalt, two teams of Bahamian chess playing juniors have scored their best-ever results in the recent Florida International Chess Orange Bowl.
A Bahamas National Chess Team in the 10-12 year old division scored second out of 13, outclassing teams from Jamaica, Ecuador, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados and six teams from the USA.
In the 13-15 year old division, four Bahamians secured third place over rival teams from Ecuador, Venezuela, Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad. The 13-15 year olds also trounced nine club teams from the USA including the strong Miami International Chess Academy coached by well-known International Chess Master Blas Lugo.
The strong results reaffirms the strength of junior chess in the Bahamas and the boy’s natural talent, according to Warren Seymour, Master Trainer and Coach with the Bahamas Chess Federation.
The three day tournament was held December 26-29 at Emassy Suites in Miami and is part of the Florida Orange Bowl Youth Festival, billed as the largest festival for youth in the world.
The two four-player Bahamas teams were sent under the auspices of the Bahamas Chess Federation and were funded by major sponsor Vitamalt with assistance from national flag carrier Bahamasair. Vitamalt also sponsored a summer chess exhibition tournament held in Rawson Square.
The eight-player squad was chosen based on their performance throughout the year, specifically in the Vitamalt Chess Classic held in September. According to coach Seymour the players performed extremely well given the tough international competition which was even stronger this year.
“In fact,” says Seymour, “our two teams were leading in both age divisions going into the last round. Although overall we are very pleased, we could have captured full honours if the boys had performed better in the seventh round.
“in December coming,” said Seymour, “with the right training and dedication to study from the boys, we can bring home first prize in at least one division. Because the boys all move up one division, they certainly have lots of work this year if they are to feature so strongly again. So we urge the parents to organise the boy’s study and to attend our training clinics on Saturdays.”
The top individual performance was achieved by Le Roi Thompson of Kingsway Academy who placed 3rd individually out of 40 competitors, with four wins, two draws and one loss.
In the 12-10 division the top individual ranking by a Bahamian was seventh place scored by Lincoln Knowles (S.A.C.) with four wins, one draw and two losses.
Burns House Marketing Manager Nikki Reid and DeWitt Farrington, Vitamalt’s brand manager, congratulated the boys at a presentation at Burns House where the company received the two team trophies, one of which will be given to Commonwealth Brewery where Vitamalt is made.
The teams were: 15-13 age division (15 or under as of January 1, 2003): Le Roi Thompson (Kingsway Academy), Lemaro Thompson (Kingsway), Elton Joseph (C.R. Walker), and Debaro Huyler.
The four boys in the 12-10 age division were: Lincoln Knowles (St. Augustine’s College), Miguel Darling, Dominic Bower (Queen’s College), and Levardo Rolle.
Coaches for the Miami event were Warren Seymour and Bob Bower, assisted by chaperone parents Leroy Thompson and Peter-Paul Knowles.
The Bahamas Chess Federation is currently seeling a permanent home in Central Nassau as well as adult volunteers to help administer the federation and help with the Chess-In-Schools program. The Federation teaches chess in more than 24 schools in New Providence and holds regular tournaments.
The next tournament, The Winter Classic, will be held on January 26 at C.C. Sweeting Senior High School. For more information call: Mr. Seymour at 325-6210.
Source: The Bahamas Chess Federation
