Chess Carnival kicks off in Trinidad!

The CMMB Caribbean Chess Carnival has begun and reigning champion IM Humberto Pecorelli will be challenged by Barbados’ IM Kevin Denny. Organizer Edison Raphael states that the tournament is off to an exciting start. Photos below! Reports to follow!

IM Humberto Pecorelli

IM Humberto Pecorelli (Cuba)

IM Kevin Denny

IM Kevin Denny (Barbados)

5 Comments

  1. MEDIA RELEASE

    Date: August 7th, 2008
    To: Sport Editor
    From: Trinidad & Tobago Chess Foundation
    Contact: Edison Raphael – President 678-0132

    Carnival in the Oval!

    The Caribbean Chess Carnival got off to an exciting start on Wednesday 06th August with over 100 players from across the region. The five-day tournament organised by the Trinidad and Tobago Chess Foundation and sponsored by both the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs and CMMB Limited, is taking place at the Queen’s Park Cricket Club with participants from Barbados, Cuba, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Suriname, the US Virgin Islands, Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago. It has attracted top regional players, including International Chess Masters Cuban Humberto Pecorelli-Garcia, who is rated 2411 and Barbadian Kevin Denny, who has a rating of 2342.

    Ms. Cheryl-Ann Jordan, Assistant Vice President of CMMB Limited, in her opening address to the players and their relatives spoke of the company’s belief in the holistic development of the person which includes challenging young minds to reach their full potential, while having fun. She added, “The key is that you must carefully think out your strategy before you execute. This is a skill that will serve you well throughout your lives.”

    After the first two rounds, 6 players are tied on full points in the under-10 category, including Hazel Acosta from the US Virgin Islands, Allon Richards from Barbados and Joshua Johnson, Jonathan Paul, Rishon Ramlogan and Mahendra Singh from Trinidad and Tobago.

    In the under-14 age group, 8 players have secured maximum points thus far; Trinidadian Keron Cabralis, Jamaican Douglas Johnson and Surinamese Lorenzo Sukhdeo.

    The 5 players on 2 points in the under-20 category are Alex Jackman from Barbados, WCM Victoria Naipal and Romario Sanches from Suriname, and Damion Davy and Phillip George Pryce from Jamaica.

    In the Open section 5 players are on full points after 2 rounds, International Masters Humberto Pecorelli-Garcia and Kevin Denny from Cuba and Barbados respectively. Also on 2 points are Roger Matoewi of Suriname, and Trinidadians Ravishen Singh and Marcus Joseph.

    The 9-round Swiss-style tournament will end on Sunday 10th August, where trophies will be presented to the first ten places and a total prize fund of $30,000 will be distributed to the first five winners, across all four categories: under-10, under-14, under-20 and Open.

    Full details are available on the tournament website daily: http://www.caribbeanchesscarnival.com

  2. MEDIA RELEASE

    Date: August 7th, 2008

    To: Sport Editor

    From: Trinidad & Tobago Chess Foundation

    Contact: Edison Raphael – President 678-0132

    National Champion Upset at Chess Carnival

    The second day of play in the Caribbean Chess Carnival provided a number of exciting pairings, which resulted in some surprising results. Perhaps the biggest upset of the day was Trinidadian Marcus Joseph’s thrashing of his counterpart, current national champion Ryan Harper. The ever improving Joseph, playing white against Harper, used the e4 opening to which Harper responded with a Sveshnikov variation of the Sicilian defence. The game ended in just 33 moves.

    In the under-20 grouping, 4 players, Barbadian Alex Jackman, Damion Davy and Phillip Pryce of Jamaica and Trinidadian Rafael Guerrero ended day two on 3.5 points.

    Leading the under-14 category after four games are Trinidadians Keron Cabralis and Garth Williams on 4 points each. On 3 points are six Trinidadian players and Barbadian Rohannsonn Waithe.

    The Trinidadians also seem to be in control of the under-10 division with Jonathan Paul and Joshua Johnson securing maximum points. Among the five players following closely behind on 3 points, is Barbadian Allon Richards.

    If chessists still have not had their fill at the end of the five-day tournament, the organizers are providing players with the opportunity to play a Blitz tournament following the closing ceremony on Sunday 10th August. Registration costs only US $5 and begins on Friday 08th August at 9:00 a.m.

    The contest sponsored by the Ministry of Sport and CMMB continues daily at the Queen’s Park Oval until Sunday.

    Full details are available on the tournament website daily: http://www.caribbeanchesscarnival.com

  3. Cuban IM Humberto Pecorelli-Garcia and Barbados’ IM Kevin Denny continue to lead the Caribbean Chess Festival . Both are on 6.5/8.

    Kevin Denny vs. Roger Matoewi
    (foreground) while Ravishen Singh battles Humberto Pecorelli.

    Results!

  4. “Cuban Master Retains Title As Chess Carnival Comes to a Close”

    The Banquet hall of the Queen’s Park Cricket Club was bustling with activity on Sunday 10th August as the Caribbean Chess Carnival came to a vibrant conclusion. The five-day tournament was truly a Carnival in every sense of the word, with participants from different countries and cultures competing in different divisions, all in the hopes of walking away victorious.

    In his address during the closing ceremony, Chief Executive Officer of CMMB, Mr. Robert Myers spoke of the importance of celebrating young people engaging in positive activities like chess, especially in today’s society where they are often seen in a negative light. President of the Trinidad and Tobago Chess Association, Mr. Roderick Noel delivered remarks from that organisation and mentioned his delight in having the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs be a part of the tournament.

    Both CMMB and the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs sponsored the event, which attracted more than 100 players from countries such as Barbados, Cuba, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, the US Virgin Islands and Venezuela. The audience listened attentively to both addresses but their real reason for being there was to hear the announcement of the winners in the respective divisions. They did not have to wait very long, as Mistress of Ceremonies, Ms. Marcia La Borde quickly got down to the business at hand.

    In the open category, there were no surprises since Cuban International Master Humberto Pecorelli-Garcia took home the 1st place trophy, repeating his success in last year’s tournament. However, he had to share the attractive top cash prize with fellow International Master Kevin Denny of Barbados, who like Pecorelli, ended the nine-round competition on 7 points, with neither player losing a single game. Finishing in 3rd position was Surinamese player Roger Matoewi on 6 points. He was followed by five players on 5.5 points; Trinidadians Alex Winter-Roach and national champion Ryan Harper, Venezuelan Germán Herrera-Ortega, Barbadian Justin Blackman and Trinidadian Marcus Cobham. Both Trinidadian Marcus Joseph and Venezuelan César Ramos secured 5 points to finish in 9th and 10th position respectively.

    The under-10 category remained a keenly competed division down to the very end, as three Trinidadian players ended the tournament on 8 points. Nevertheless, Joshua Johnson captured the 1st place trophy, followed by Jonathan Paul and Mahendra Singh. In 4th place on 6 points was another Trinidadian, Rishon Ramlogan. Eight players secured 5 points; Barbadian Allon Richards, Trinidadian Gabriella Johnson, US Virgin Island players Nathan Gargano, Benjamin Shapiro and Hazel Acosta, and Trinidadians Jade Noreiga, Luke Walker and Alex Walcott.

    Trinidad and Tobago also captured the top honours in the under-14 age group, with Vishnu Singh winning the category on 8 points, followed closely by Keron Cabralis on 7.5. 3rd place went to Romardo Polen Henry of Jamaica, who secured 7 points. The Trinidadians took the 4th to 6th prizes with Jarryon Paul finishing on 6.5 points, and Prithvi Ramakrishnan and Jonathan Chong on 6 points each. Four players ended with 5.5 points to secure the 7th to 10th positions; Jamaican Douglas Johnson, Barbadian Chad Barrow, Jamari Venzen of the US Virgin Islands and Barbadian Nathan Harewood.

    Nevertheless, the under-20 category seemed to belong to the foreign participants. Ending the tournament on 7.5 points to clinch the top spot was Alex Jackman of Barbados. His closest competitors were Jamaicans Phillip George Pryce, who ended on 7 points, and Zachary Ramsay, who ended on 6.5 points. There was a seven-way tie for 4th to 10th place, with the following players all securing 5.5 points; Jamaican Damion Davy, Trinidadian Rafael Guerrero, Surinamese players Victoria Naipal, Avikaar Malgie and Romario Sanches, and Trinidadians Jayson Paul and Rolan Mahabirsingh.

    Following the distribution of prizes, participants and their support teams were treated to sweet pan music and light refreshments, as the organisers sought to give the foreign contingents a small taste of Trinbagonian culture courtesy the Ministry of Tourism before they returned to their home countries.

    The last lap of the Chess Carnival was a Blitz tournament organised by three enthusiastic junior players, Jonathan Chong, and brothers Jonathan and Jarryon Paul. After 7 rounds of rapid play, Warren Elliott captured the first prize among the seniors, while Justin Blackman of Barbados took home the first prize among the juniors.

    The players’ reluctance to leave the venue, even after 9 rounds of intense competition over a five-day period, is a small testimony to the success of the tournament. It appears that the tournament has left all participants wanting more of the Carnival but they would have to wait for an even bigger and better Caribbean Chess Carnival in 2009!

    The tournament has ended and the results are:
    OPEN
    # Name RATING FED TOTAL
    1 Humberto Pecorelli 2411 CUB 7
    2 Kevin Denny 2342 BAR 7
    3 Roger Matoewi 2149 SUR 6
    4 Alex Winter-Roach 2081 TRI 5.5
    5 Ryan Harper 2268 TRI 5.5

    UNDER 20
    # Name RATING FED TOTAL
    1 Alex Jackman 1916 BAR 7.5
    2 Phillip George Pryce unr. JAM 7
    3 Zachary Ramsay 1956 JAM 6.5
    4 Damion Davy unr. JAM 5.5
    5 Rafael Guerrero unr. TRI 5.5

    UNDER 14
    # Name RATING FED TOTAL
    1 Vishnu Singh unr. TRI 8
    2 Keron Cabralis 2000 TRI 7.5
    3 Romardo Henry unr. SUR 7
    4 Jarryon Paul unr. TRI 6.5
    5 Prithvi Ramakrishnan unr. TRI 6

    UNDER 10
    # Name RATING FED TOTAL
    1 Joshua Johnson unr. TRI 8
    2 Jonathan Paul unr. TRI 8
    3 Mahendra Singh unr. TRI 8
    4 Rishon Ramlogan unr. TRI 6
    5 Allon Richards unr. BAR 5

  5. kevin,my email account i cannot get into. i don’t remember yours.i wrote to you couple of times since. lotsgoing on that you need to know about. anitakishna April 2010

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