INTRODUCTION

FM Grantel Gibbs, holds the distinction of being the first Jamaican Player to have attained the title of Fide Master. After learning the game in 1982 he started playing chess competitively in 1986 under the encouragement of former Women's National Champion, Claire Clarke.

PLAYING STYLE

FM Gibbs is feared by most Chess Players because of his aggressive attacking playing style, and his powerful middlegame. Most of his games rarely reach the ending, as he prefers sharp, dynamic unbalanced unclear positions where both Kings are in imminent danger and the chess contest can be decided swiftly and concretely. He prevails in positions where the stronger attacking player wins, and in terms of raw middlegame strength and attacking genius, he is perhaps rivaled only by National Masters Devlin Sinclair, DR. Kevin Brown, Shane Matthews and former National Champion Ryan Palmer.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

This two time National Champion won his last national Championship in 1994 and is the current defending Masters Knockout Champion, which he won in 2001. He is matched only by the "Magician" NM Shane Matthews in blitz chess and was a former two time National Blitz champion when he won the blitz titles in 1993 and 1996.
His strongest International performance occured when he scored (5/9) in the 1999 Caribbean Open in Trinidad, in which he played Grandmasters Urday of Peru and Chris Ward from England.
Some highlights of his chess career are as follows;

2001 Masters Ko; Attained 1st PLace
1999 Sub zonalz in Venezuela; Jamaica's First FIDE Master 1999
1999 Caribbean Open in Trinidad;Scored impressive (5/9)
1996 Int'l Open in Havana Cuba; Scored (4.5/9)
1994 Awards ceremony; Voted Player of the year
1994 National Championships; Placed 1st
1994 Masters Ko:; Placed 1st
1991 National Championships; Joint 1st place with NM Neil Fairclough
1988 National Junior Championships; PLaced 1st

RECENT TOURNAMENT RESULTS

FM Gibbs has not played any recent Tournaments in 2003, but turned in a grea performance to take 4th place in the 2002 National Champs.

CONCLUSION

FM Gibbs has achieved much, as a chess player and as Jamaica's first FM, does not have much more to prove. His contributions to chess in terms of administration have been tremendous. This years National Championships mightl provide the platform for him to return to chess. To be the best chess player in Jamaica, you must beat the best chess players in jamaica. Time will tell, and history will be the judge.

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