Josh Colas to compete in Trinidad
Summer vacation is here and young stars are out to make an impact. Josh Colas has been making strides to reach National Master status. He has been selected to compete in the World Youth Championship in Haldiki, Greece in October. However, Josh will make his international debut in Trinidad and Tobago, not far from his ancestral home of Haiti. He will compete in the Caribbean Chess Carnival from August 3rd-8th in the capitol, Port of Spain. This tournament will attract players from throughout the Caribbean and Latin America and will give the young star valuable experience.
Edison Raphael of the Trinidad Chess Foundation has extended an invitation to Josh to compete in his biggest challenge to date. This nine-round event will give Josh a chance to earn an official FIDE rating and will also give him a chance to play some Master-level competition each round. Scheduled to compete in the field is three-time reigning champion International Master Humberto Pecorelli of Cuba. He will have some serious competition. According to an article in the Trinidad Guardian,
Another participating Cuban, Geraldo Labredo, took the third prize in last year’s event. Two Masters from Venezuela, Julio Ostos and Rafael Prasca Sosa, and two from Barbados, Kevin Denny and Terry Farley, are also in the contest. Apart from the Masters, the Chess Carnival, now in its eighth year, is attracting players from T&T, the Caribbean and Latin America, including Colombia, Barbados, Jamaica, Suriname, Martinique and Guadeloupe. The tournament will see action in two main categories, the Open and three junior sections, Under 10, Under 14 and Under 20. (See article)
There will also be a number of local players including FM Ryan Harper. A strong Jamaican contingent will also be present. Josh will be supported by his father Guy Colas who will help him settle in. Daaim Shabazz of The Chess Drum will also be on hand to give moral support the young star.
Trinidad Guardian, 16 June 2010.
| # | Player | ELO |
Nation
|
Flag
|
Result | Player | ELO |
Nation
|
Flag
|
| 1 | Singh | 2117 |
Trinidad
|
 |
½-½ | Colas | 0 |
USA
|
 |
| 2 | Colas | 0 |
USA
|
|
½-½ | Velez | 2302 |
Cuba
|
 |
| 3 | Ramadhar | 2064 |
Trinidad
|
|
1-0 | Colas | 0 |
USA
|
|
| 4 | Colas | 0 |
USA
|
|
½-½ | Pouchet | 2079 |
Trinidad
|
|
| 5 | Ali | 1833 |
Trinidad
|
|
0-1 | Colas | 0 |
USA
|
|
| 6 | Colas | 0 |
USA
|
|
1-0 | Cobham | 2049 |
Trinidad
|
|
| 7 | Colas | 0 |
USA
|
|
1-0 | Harper | 2262 |
Trinidad
|
|
| 8 | Denny | 2332 |
Barbados
|
 |
1-0 | Colas | 0 |
USA
|
|
| 9 | Colas | 0 |
USA
|
|
1-0 | Paul | 1939 |
Trinidad
|
|
We are pleased to welcome Josh to Trinidad and Tobago. When another eleven year old came to T&T several years ago under similar circumstances, he impressed everyone who saw him in action. His name? Hikaru Nakamura.
Carl Jacobs of the Trinidad Guardian remembered him in a 2007 article.
https://legacy.guardian.co.tt/archives/2007-04-19/SA-9.html
Congratulations Josh!! Justus and I predict you will win the entire tournament, which would be an exceptional accomplishment. But hey, you’re an exceptional kid so it really would not be a surprise sweety!! Good luck out there. We are extremely proud of you.
Winning the tournament may be a bit too much to expect from his first international tournament, but I think Josh will play well. He will be competing against very strong players, so he will definitely gets some valuable experience. He will need to relax and play his game without any fear.
Hi Latisha,
Thank you! While Josh will be competing in Trinidad, Justus will also be competing in Brazil. It will be interesting to see how both of them handle the pressure of International competition. As best said by Daaim, Josh’s primary objective should be ” to relax and play his game without any fear.” Hopefully, Justus will do the same and have a great tournament.
Guy & Josh
https://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20107130336
Josh Colas about to start his first international game against former National Champion Ravishen Singh of Trinidad. The game was drawn.
| Open | Under-20 | Under-14 | Under-10 |
Reports and Tournament Photos
https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2010/06/04/2010-caribbean-chess-carnival/
Josh Colas vs. IM Nestor Velez fought to a draw.
Josh Colas battling FM Ryan Harper in round #7 of the Caribbean Chess Carnival. The 11-year old All-American defeated the former Trinidadian National Champion. Harper trots out his pet Dragon, but Colas eschews the main lines (which Harper knows well).
This game drew a lot of attention from onlookers.
Ricardo Velasco, 13-year old Venezuelan star looks on.
Guy Colas watching the action.
The “Young Lion” on the prowl.
Harper resigned and they signed the scoresheets.
The signed scoresheets.
Video of Colas-Harper
It was a Sicillian Dragon apparently.It would be nice if the games were put online. However the video footage showed a good finish by Colas.Shows staying power and consistent accuracy.Confidence as well.
I look forward to seeing what he can do outside of the US and in Europe.
John,
There are no games uploaded thus far. There is no one to input the games. Usually, the players will input the games themselves to help out, but that didn’t happen this time.
Both Josh Colas and Justus Williams are competing in the National Youth Chess Championship in Montreal, Canada. Both are ranked 1 and 2 in under-12. Darrian Robinson is in the Girls under-16.
https://monroi.com/2010-north-american-youth-championship-home.html
Post-mortem analysis of Colas-Paul game