Blackman retakes chess title

KATRINA BLACKMAN has regained the national women’s chess title after overcoming last’s year champion Gabriela Cumberbatch in a play-off contest on Thursday night.

After the two players were locked on five and a half out of a possible six points when the final round of games were contested last Saturday, they were forced to decide the title in a play-off, which provided some excitement at the Bridgetown Chess Centre in Cavans Lane.

In two rapid games where players were restricted to 25 minutes, the action proved to be very close but the 24-year-old Blackman, the highest rated female player in the island, won both games against the 16-year-old Cumberbatch to emerge national champion for the third time.

Blackman, a woman candidate master, claimed her first national title in 2012 and won again in 2014 before she was narrowly beaten by Cumberbatch last year when the two players were again tied on points. (HG)

Please read the full story in today’s Saturday Sun, or in the eNATION edition.