" A tower of nine stories begins with a heap of earth. The journey of a thousand li starts from where one stands." - Tao-te Ching

INTRODUCTION

Ian Wilkinson, President of the Jamaica Chess Federation, first learned the game in 1999, and played his first Tournament in the Jamaica Chess Open of the year 2000. In a very short time he has made a tremendous impact on Jamaican Chess, through his contributions on the Jamaica Chess Federation Executive. He is also ,arguably, one of the most rapidly improving players in Jamaica. Even though he started playing serious chess long after he had graduated from Kingston College, he has fully grasped the essential principles of the game and has beaten quite a few Top players in recent times.

He Captained the Jamaica Women's Chess team in the Chess Olympiad of 2002, which was held in Slovenia, and is the current President of the Jamaica Chess Federation.

PLAYING STYLE

Ian Wilkinson is a Tactical aggressive player, who likes to play with his Queen. He has a keen eye for Combinations and is continually strengthening and improving his game as he regularly analyses and Annotates interesting Chess games played in Jamaica.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

The Highlight of Ian's Chess Career is without a Doubt his Sojourn to the Chess Olympiad of 2002, in Bled Slovenia as Jamaica's Non-Playing Team Captain of the Women's Chess Team. Under his leadership and guidance, the Jamaican Women's Olympic Chess Team were inspired to produce one of their most successful performances of all time.

RECENT TOURNAMENT RESULTS

Ian Wilkinson recently turned in a creditable performance in the 2002 Xmas Open where he obtained a plus Score, and created a thrilling upset victory over Candidate Master Equitable Brown in the process.

CONCLUSION

Jamaica's most rapidly improving player will no doubt continue to strengthen his game as he continues to analyse, and review his games. His enthusiastic and fresh approach to the game has served to help revitalize chess in Jamaica. If he can balance his role as President of the JCF with with the challenging task of continuing to improve his own personal Chess game, then perhaps he will persevere in the spirit of the Motto of his former High School , Kingston College, which states;
"The Brave May Fall But Never Yield."

END