The Jamaican duo of Women’s Fide Master Deborah Richards and Melisha Smith captured the top places in the inaugural Margaret Prince Celebration Tournament.

The Margaret Prince Celebration Tournament was held in honour of Margaret Prince a former Ladies national Champion who passed away in August 2008.

Women’s Fide Master Deborah Richards with a Fide rating of 1991 was in excellent form and totally dominated the field wining all six games to finish on maximum points. Her toughest battle was against Natali Greenidge Fide 2019 but Richards prevailed and was able to force victory in the end game.

Melisha Smith, the rising Jamaican chess star and a product of Jamaica’s Junior chess Programme was very impressive in her first international outing scoring 4 wins and a draw. Her only lost was against her fellow Jamaican Richards and she drew in the final round with Natali Greenidge of Barbados.

Natali Greenidge in her first tournament in several years did well to finish in third position and fellow Barbadian Katrina Blackman finished fourth.

In fifth place was the young Trinidad sensation Javanna Smith who at only 12 years of age is already a women’s Candidate Master with a Fide rating of 1819.

In the girls developmental section, Mia Mascoll of Harrison College took the top spot on the tie break after finishing on 4 points tied with Combemere’s Cherise Austin who had to settle for 2nd place. Lydia Nurse of Queen’s College finished third.

At the prize giving ceremony, Mr. Allan Herbert Chairman of Fide’s Development Commission reviewed Margaret Prince’s role in the development of women’s chess in the region and spoke of current developments in women’s Chess worldwide. Visiting Fide Master Bengt Hammar of Sweden spoke of his role indentifying the talented Swedish Grandmaster Pia Cramling who is one of the strongest female players of all times. He encouraged the young female players to train hard,play hard and never give up because they too can become Grandmasters like Pia.

The next event of the Federation’s calendar is the National Rapid Chess Championships which begin on Saturday, January 9th, 2010 3:00pm at the Bridgetown Chess Centre, Cavans Lane,The City.

~ Allan Herbert

This is a great initiative on the part of the Barbados Chess Federation and we in Jamaica wish for our Barbadian colleagues great success in this event.

Indeed, Jamaica will have two participants, WFM Deborah Richards, the strongest female player in the English-speaking Caribbean, and rising Jamaican female star Melisha Smith. This is the least we could do in tribute to Margaret Prince, a great Caribbean stalwart. May her memory live long in the annals of West Indian sports, particularly chess!!

Ian Wilkinson
President
Jamaica Chess Federation