JUSTIN BLACKMAN is the leader in the Barbados Chess Federation’s Rapid Championship just after the halfway stage of the competition.
Blackman has put one hand on the trophy after winning his first four matches when the tournament started last weekend at the Chess Centre on Exmouth Gap, Brandons.
Blackman moved into the lead after defeating multiple times former national champion, FIDE master Dr Philip Corbin in the third round in a clash between the two unbeaten front-runners.
Earlier in the tournament, Blackman knocked off current national champion FIDE master Martyn del Castilho.
With the final three rounds scheduled for tomorrow, Corbin is in second place on three points with last year’s Under-20 champion Justin Parsons in third on two-and-a-half points.
In overseas action, International Master Orlando Husbands made a good start to the Srefidensi chess tournament in Suriname by winning his first two games, including a contest against oman grandmaster Altan-Ulzii Enkhtuul of Mongolia, the fifth highest ranked player in the section.
Fellow International Master Terry Farley lost his first game and drew his second. (PR)