The upsets are coming fast and furious in the 2014 National Chess Championship.
In what has been the biggest upset so far, Lodge School junior player Jakeel Harewood defeated Barbados’ newest international chess master Delisle Warner in round four action at the Bridgetown Chess Club in Cavans Lane on Wednesday.
The victory pushed Jakeel into the joint lead on three points from four matches with his twin brother Jerome Harewood, who drew his game with Allon Richards.
Warner, playing the white pieces, would have felt that he should easily have taken the point from Jakeel, but the determined youngster had other ideas. Warner did not play his usual opening and ran into his pet defence – the French. But playing the white side of the opening, he became unstuck in the early middle game and proceeded to lose a piece.
Jakeel Harewood held his nerve as he went on to execute a deserved victory.
Next to create a buzz was Lawrence Depradine, who, with his aggressive style, was able to hold top junior Yu Tien Poon to a draw. In a game full of cut and thrust, neither player gave quarter and a draw seemed a reasonable result.
Other results of the round saw Martyn Del Castilho defeat Othneil Harewood, while defending champ Orlando Husbands won from Kemp Lynch and Bryan Prescod drew with Roberto Castillo.
With the Harewood twins out front, Poon, Del Castilho, Lynch and Husbands all tied on two and a half points, even though Poon and Del Castilho have only played three games.
Action continues today from 4 p.m. (PR/EZS)
