Edison Raphael, "Trinidad & Tobago Players Triumph in Miami Tourney," 9 January 2006.

Trinidad and Tobago Christopher Raphael and Keron Cabralis took top spots in the 12 and under and 9 and under individual sections at the Junior Orange Bowl International Scholastic Championships staged at the Embassy Suites Hotel, Florida recently. In the competition that featured 168 individuals from six countries (Barbados, Ecuador, Panama, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, USA and Trinidad and Tobago), Christopher Raphael played unbeaten in the 7 round event.

Christopher won the 12 and Under section with 5.5 points edging out Jamaicans Stuart James and Hakim Buchanan as well as Sam Silberman of the USA who ended with 5.5 points into second, third and fourth place respectively. Christopher won with the application of the tie-break system.

In the 9 and Under section Cabralis who won this event in 2004 played unbeaten to win the top spot with a perfect score of 7 out of 7 games successfully defending his hold on the 9 and Under title.

Runners up Laura Cordovi of the USA and Maria Fernandez Diaz of Ecuador trailed Cabralis with 6 points and 5.5 points to take second and third places respectively. In the 15 and under section Justin Salloum and our National Ladies champion Chantal Fitzpatrick ended in 3^rd and 4^th places respective.

In the team events: our 15 and Under team (Justin Salloum, Kiran Maharaj and Chantal Fitzpatrick) earned top spot while our 9 and Under team (Keron Cabralis, Prasanna Ramakrishnan and Ronnie Nelson) placed 2^nd in their division.

Photo Report (PDF format)

Front row: left to right, Hakim Buchanan (3^rd), Christopher Raphael (1^st), & Stuart James (2^nd)

Lesley-ann Nelson, "Ronnie Nelson (chess prodigy) at the 9th Junior Orange Bowl 2005, 12 January 2006.

Hi Daaim,

A Happy and prosperous New Year to you and yours. May this year bring you much of what you dream and aspire for on your life journey.

Indeed it was a wonderful tournament. There were participants from international countries such as Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica, Panama, Ecuador, and the local teams of United States were Miami International Chess Academy, Jose Marti Middle School also of Miami I.Q. Chess Club. I believe their were some others .

R.J. indeed did some wonderful games. In the 7th round he was among the first 10th and the youngest player, and leading in the 6th in the 6 and under with a total of 4 games. He was able to take the 2nd place in the 6th and under-a job well done and the 14th place in the 9 and under out of 42 players. He also help his team to take the second place in the Team standing in the 9 and under. Other team members were Keron Cabralis and Prassana Ramkrishna. In first place were Miami International Chess Academy, 3rd place Jamaica.

There is so much to report from this tournament. I have seen our Caribbean Tigers in the making. But this tournament will not have been a success, given the tireless and wonderful work done by Tiffany Williams and William Kennedy. There hard work must not go unnoticed. We all look forward to 2006 when Tiffany will be now responsible for spearheading this Tournament.

Also for a greater participation of female players. So coming out of this year theme of the Junior Orange Bowl theme of "Friendship". Tiffany and I will now be partnering to have the Tri-Miami all Girls Chess team, as part of Save Our Children Foundation mission.

So persons interested in becoming members can contact Lesley-Ann Nelson at lescarmn32@yahoo.com/1-868-645-9448.

Much thanks to all his sponsors, the wonderful work and efforts of his manager and spiritual director and all the members of his family. Special thanks to his Grandmother and number one fan, Merle Nelson.

Keep the Drum Beating
Lesley-ann Nelson

Joshua Blanchard of Barbados teams with RJ Nelson in a "bughouse" tournament. It was RJ's first time playing the variant and enjoyed it tremendously say his aunt, Lesley-ann Nelson.

Posted by The Chess Drum: 13 January 2006