Local players International Master Orlando Husbands and Woman FIDE Master Hannah Wilson are leading their respective divisions at the halfway stage of the Subzone 2.3.3 Open and Women’s Chess Championships 2025, currently underway at the Cascadia Hotel in Trinidad, and are eyeing the titles.
Wilson, the current Barbados national champion, has recorded five wins from five matches to hold the sole lead in the women’s section. In her last two matches, she defeated the top-ranked Ysvett Hermoso Rodriguez of Trinidad and then Taqesyah Marcos of Curacao to head the 27 player-field. Wilson has been in good form, playing very solidly, and exhibiting good endgame technique. She will look to maintain her strong form over the next four matches as she aims to capture the title.
In round six, Wilson will play compatriot Chanon Reifer-Belle, who is tied in second on four points with Rodriguez. Chanon has looked impressive in her last two games, with victories over Zara Majid of the Cayman Islands and Gabriella Watson of Jamaica. As a result of her performance, she will now face her fierce and long-time rival, Wilson, on the top board in the next round.
In the Open section of the event, Orlando Husbands is one of four players who share the lead with 4 ½ points from five games. He shares the lead with FIDE Master Joshua Christie of Jamaica and International Master Vishnu Singh and FIDE Master Kevin Cupid, both of Trinidad.
In his last round, Husbands looked impressive as he defeated Adrian Atwell Winter of Trinidad. In the next round, he will battle fellow International Master Singh.
Unfortunately, the two other Bajans competing in the Open section, Emar Edwards and Justin Parsons, both suffered defeats in their most recent games. Edwards was beaten by Jamaica’s Raheem Glaves, while Parsons lost to Trinidad’s Joshua Medina. The losses leave them in 25th and 26th place, respectively, in the 96-player field. With four rounds remaining, both players will need to bring their A-game to climb the standings and finish strong.
(PR/BT)
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