BARBADOS’ women pulled off their first win at the 42nd Chess Olympiad in Azerbaijan yesterday.
The Bajan girls, who are ranked 119th out of 140 teams, blanked 127th ranked Swaziland 4-0 to complete their first victory in six matches at Crystal Hall in the capital city Baku.
Katrina Blackman, Barbados’ highest ranked player with a rating of 1642, defeated Nosimilo Mkhonto (1392) on board 1, while Donna Murray (1419) beat Nosiphoon Dlamini on board 2.
Gabriella Cumberbatch (1312), playing on board 3, defeated a higher ranked opponent, Thobile Mthethwa (1392), while Segan Sandiford (1226) won from Temabuya Ngwenya on board 4.
The victory was a boost for Barbados’ women who had suffered four successive defeats at the start of the tournament before playing to a draw against Guam in the fifth round. (HG)
Please read the full story in today’s Weekend Nation, or in the eNATION edition.