BARBADOS’ men completed a hat-trick of wins to achieve their fifth victory of the 42nd Chess Olympiad in Azerbaijan yesterday.
The Bajans, ranked 103rd out of 180 teams, defeated No. 99-ranked Wales 3-1 to move up from 92nd place to 75th after the tenth and penultimate round of games at Crystal Hall in the capital city Baku.
FIDE master Orlando Husbands, playing on Board 1, had the satisfaction of beating an international master for the third time in the tournament after getting the better of Richard Jones.
Barbados also recorded wins through Martyn del Castilho on Board 2 and Terry Farley on Board 4, but Yu Tien Poon, playing on Board 3, was unable to complete a clean sweep for the Bajans.
Barbados will have a tough final round contest today when they face 42nd ranked Denmark who have a quartet of grandmasters.
The Bajan women had to settle for a 2-2 draw with fellow Caribbean team Guyana, who are ranked seven places below them.
Gabribella Cumberbatch and Segan Sandiford scored victories on Boards 2 and 3 respectively, while Katrina Blackman and Lydia Nurse lost on Boards 1 and 4 respectively.
Barbados’ women, ranked 119 out of 140 teams, are in 122nd position with a record of two wins, two draws and six defeats.
Their final match today is against 115th ranked Kenya.
Jamaica men defeated Tunisia 3-1 and their women drew with South Korea 2-2, while Trinidad and Tobago men beat Mauritania 3-1 and their women lost to Luxembourg 2 1/2 to 1 1/2. (HG)
