Rowe takes 2010 Jamaican Open!
Super National Master (SNM) Duane ‘Rossolimo’ Rowe was in top form when he re-captured the 2010 Jamaica Chess Open, held on October 30-31 at the Medallion Hall Hotel. Rowe, a graduate of Cambridge University, was unable to defend his title last year due to work commitments overseas.
However, the Super National Master made an emphatic return to local chess, drubbing the competition with a solid 5.5 points from a possible 6, including important wins over National Master Andrew Mellace and National Women’s Champion WFM Deborah Richards.
The triumph was secured in the penultimate round, after a critical draw with long time rival National Master Russell Porter, who, as a result, had to settle for second place with 4.5 points. Newly crowned National Master Ryan Blackwood also finished with 4.5 points, but was relegated the bronze medal based on tie breaks.
WFM Deborah Richards, who led the National Female Team to a record-breaking performance at the World Olympiad in Russia last month, was adjudged the ‘Best Female Player’. The prize for ‘Best Junior Player’ was awarded to the rapidly improving Calabar student Shreyas Smith, after he produced impressive wins over veterans Samuel Lamont and Terence Lindo.
WFM Deborah Richards takes on eventual winner Duane Rowe
while Russel Porter takes on Daren Wisdom.
In the Amateur section, University of Technology student Kenroy Smith and Wolmer’s Boys’ Miguel Asher both finished on top with 5.5 points, however Smith was awarded the gold medal after ousting Asher on tiebreaks. Okolo Callendar finished in third place with 5 points, having suffered a fifth round loss to Smith, the eventual champion.
The event was sponsored by the Medallion Hall Hotel and Magnificent Chess Foundation. The next event on the calendar is the 2010 Frederick Cameron Open, to be held November 27-28 at the UWI Old Library.
~ Zachary Ramsay
What are the requirements for Super National Master? In the U.S. we have “Senior Master” which is 2400 and above.
Daaim,
We took the decision several years ago to introduce the title where:
1. A player, without an international title, reaches 2400 locally;
2.He/she holds the 2400 for two consecutive tournaments involving at least six rated games for each event; and
3.the player has been a national champion and/or won the premier Masters event for local NMs- the Masters K.O.
The decision to use “super” was made to avoid any confusion which might arise with the age of the player re the use of “senior”.