NM Geoffrey Byfield (right) receives the Dr. Harold Chan Trophy from JCF President Ian Wilkinson. Photo by Jamaica Chess Fed.

Pete Myers, " Byfield captures Chan Chess Open,"  Jamaican Chess Federation, 5 September 2006 (Clarendon, Jamaica).

National Master (NM) Geoffrey Byfield walked away with top honours at the end of the Dr. Harold Chan Chess Open, held at the RBTT Bank Headquarters in New Kingston over the weekend. Byfield topped the Open section after securing a tame final round draw against Peter Myers, to end the tournament unbeaten on five points from six games.

Second place went to Myers who also ended unbeaten on 4.5 points, while third place was shared between five players, NM Russel Porter, NM Duane Rowe, NM Mark Holness, Andrew Mellace and Daren Wisdom who all ended on 4 points each. National Junior Champion Brandon Wilson took the award for being the best junior in the Open section.

Campion College's Chad Simeon won the section for players rated under-1800, after scoring five points from his six games. Simeon's only loss came when his cell phone went off during one of his matches, which by the new laws of chess is an automtic loss. Second place went to Melisha Smith who ended on 4.5 points. Smith also took home the best female under 1800 prize.

The tournament, formerly called the Summer Open, was renamed in 2003 in honour of Dr. Harold Chan who was one of the first three individuals to earn the National Master title in 1975. Chan also won the Jamaica National Chess Championship titles from 1972-74, and 1978-79.

The tournament was co-sponsored by General Accident Insurance Co. Ltd and RBTT Bank Jamaica Ltd. The next open chess tournament on the Jamaica Chess Federation calendar is the Jamaica Open scheduled for the Heroes Day weekend in October.

Posted by The Chess Drum: 5 September 2006