KHANTY-MANSIYSK, Russia, CMC – Barbados and Jamaica ended the 39th World Chess Olympiad on a winning note as their men scored convincing victories but there was no such luck for Trinidad and Tobago as they slumped to a bad loss on Monday.
The Barbadians scored a 2-1/2 – 1-1/2 triumph over Angola, joining their women who also carved out a similar win over the Africans, while Jamaica beat Madagascar 3-1.
Trinidad and Tobago, meanwhile, went down to the Dominican Republic 3-1 to round off a disappointing tournament.
With their victory, Barbados ended sixth in Category D to be the only Caribbean country making the top 10 in the men’s team standings.
Their good fortune was owed to International Master Kevin Denny who beat Roberto Erikson, and FIDE Master Delisle Warner who brushed aside Ediberto Domingos.
Matryn Del Castilho drew with International Master Amorin Agnelo and International Master Terry Farley lost to Eduardo Pascoal.
On the women’s side of the draw, Nathali Greenidge scored the winning point for Barbados while Juanita Garnett scored Barbados’s other win against Nicola Benson.
Jamaica, meanwhile, got wins from FIDE Master Warren Elliot, International Master Jomo Pitterson and Duane Rowe as they won against Alain Ranaivoharisoa, Girard Ramasindraibe and Andriantsilavo Randy respectively.
Their women came out on the losing end, however, going down 3-1 to Iceland.
T&T’s women, though, salvaged pride for the twin-island republic as they drew 2-2 with Kenya.
Ukraine and Russia were crowned the new men and women’s World Chess Champions respectively.