Husbands’ Rapid feat

ORLANDO?HUSBANDS?of The Lodge School is the 2012 Rapid Chess champion of Barbados.
He won an exciting event held at the Sugar Cane Mall on Roebuck Street, Bridgetown last weekend.
In Rapid Chess each player has 30 minutes to complete the game. It can lead to some fast-paced and exciting finishes.
Husbands was joint leader of the tournament up to Round 4 with his schoolmate Yutien Poon, having swept all before them to be on top with four points from four games.
However, Husbands lost to Allon Richards in Round 5, while Poon had a victory over Jakeel Harewood.
Both players duly won in Round 6 of the seven-game tournament, so it was up to their final-round clash to decide the overall winner.
In a keenly fought battle, Husbands got the upper hand early on and Poon could do nothing to turn the tide, eventually going under.
With this win, both Husbands and Poon ended on six points but Husbands was declared winner on the tie-break, with Poon second.
Akeem Cox, who finished with a victory over Steven Lucas in the last round, was third on 4 ½ points.
Allon Richards finished just ahead of Jakeel Harewood on tie-break as both players ended on four points to place fourth and fifth, respectively, while the top under-14 age category prize went to Kyle Sandiford.
The next tournament will see school teachers squaring off Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday at the Bridgetown Chess Centre in Cavans Lane. (PR/EZS)