KHANTY-MANSIYSK, Russia, CMC – Trinidad and Tobago secured their first win in 30 years over Jamaica when they carved out an exciting triumph in their 10th round clash at the 39th World Chess Olympiad yesterday.
T&T won a competitive encounter 2-1/2 – 1-1/2 to defeat their English-speaking Caribbean counterparts for the first time since their 1980 triumph in Malta. Jamaica won the last two meetings in 1998 and 1990.
Their victory was their second on the trot after beating Ghana on Friday and it summed up a good start to the weekend for a side that has struggled in the tournament.
Trinidad scored the first point thanks to their exciting young 14-year-old FIDE Master Keron Cabralis who beat Duane Rowe while FIDE Master Ryan Harper drew with FIDE Master Warren Elliott of Jamaica to keep the Trinidadians ahead.
Jamaican hauled themselves back into the contest through International Master Jomo Petterson who beat Marcus Joseph but Ravishen Singh struck the decisive blow when he beat Shane Matthews.
There was no such fortune for Barbados as they went down 3-1/2 – ½ to Ecuador but their women beat Uganda 2-1/2 – 1-1/2 in what was a good round for the English-speaking Caribbean lasses.
Winning for Barbados were Nathali Greenidge and Rashida Corbin against Ivy Amoko and Phiono Mutesi respectively while Kathria Blackman drew with Grace Kigeni and Juanita Garnett lost to Joanitah Butindo.
Jamaica, meanwhile, defeated Qatar 3-1 while T&T drew 2-2 with Libya.
