BARBADOS found the going tough on the opening day of the 42nd Chess Olympiad in Azerbaijan yesterday.
Both the men’s and women’s teams were swept aside 4-0 by much higher-rated opponents at Crystal Hall in the capital city, Baku.
The men’s team, ranked 103rd out of 180 competing teams, went down to an Israel side ranked No.16 and comprising all grand masters.
The women’s team, ranked 119th out of 140 teams, lost to 48th ranked Norway.
On the men’s side, Orlando Husbands, the highest-ranked Barbadian with a rating of 2257, lost to Evgeny Postny, who has a rating of 2619.
Four-time Barbados national champion Martyn del Castilho, whose rating is 2248, went under to Tamir Nabaty, the highest rated Israel player (2630). (HG)
Please read the full story in today’s Saturday Sun, or in the eNATION edition.
