Jamaica Chess Federation - National High School Champs 2001

INTRODUCTION

National master John C. Powell,a past President of the Jamaica Chess federation and former student of Campion and St.Georges College, first learned the game when he was only Nine years old and participated in his first major chess Tournament when he played in the inaugural Jamaica National chess Championship of 1969.

PLAYING STYLE

National Master John Powell's playing style is positional with an aggressive edge. His strongest qualities are his determination to fight in tough positions and his strong endgame technique.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

This many time International Olympiad representative was awarded the title of Fide International Arbiter in 1991 and has been a certified senior Jamaica Chess federation Chess Arbiter since 1976. He was awarded the title of National Master in 1975 and was the Jamaica Open Champion of 1978.

While he has never won the Jamaica National Chess Championships outright, he tied for first place three times, once in the Jamaica National Chess champs of 1973 and again in 1980 and 1988,but lost on tiebreak to winners NM Harold Chan in 1973 ,NM Robert Wheeler, in 1980 and NM Robert Wheeler again in 1988. This many time Olympiad representative last played for Jamaica in the 1992 Olympiad in Manila and won a silver medal for board 4 in the Olympiad of 1984, which was held in Thessaloniki. At the peak of his career he was considered to be the strongest Jamaican player, never to have won the National Championships.

Some highlights of his chess career are as follows;

1992 chess Olympiad in Manila; Represented Jamaica

1988 chess Olympiad in Thessaloniki; Represented Jamaica

1988 Jamaica National Champs;2nd-3rd place

1986 chess Olympiad in Dubai; Represented Jamaica

1984 chess Olympiad in Thessaloniki; Represented Jamaica

1984 Hong Kong Commonwealth Championship

1982 chess Olympiad in Lucerne; Represented Jamaica.

1980 Chess Olympiad in malta

1978 Olympiad in Buenos Aires

1977 Havana, Cuba Triangular Scheveningen (Cuba, Jamaica, Guyana)

1976 Caracas, Venezuela World Students Olympiad

1975 Business House team Champs; Placed 1st

1975 Caribbean Team Tourney in Georgetown, Guyana. 2nd on Brd. 4 to Cuba

1974 El Salvador

1973 Caracas, Venezuela

1972 Central American & Caribbean (CACAC) Chess Team Tour With Harold Chan, Enos Grant, Smith, Fred Cameron and John Powell

RECENT TOURNAMENT RESULTS

After a long absence from Jamaican chess, NM John Powell is currently leading the 2005 President's Invitational Chess Championships and is the only National master in the field of 12 players.He is the favorite to win the trophy and if he brings home the title, it will mark a very successful return to playing chess in jamaica.

CONCLUSION

NM John Powell was an extraordinary chess Administrator and junior and schoolboy chess flourished under his watch. At the height of his chess career, National Master John Powell was without a doubt one of the strongest players in his time. His outstanding administrative contributions to chess over the years and his exploits as a player, makes him a legend in his own right. His return to Jamaican chess indicates that the final chapter has not yet been written on John Powell's chess career. The continued success of the junior chess program in Jamaica today, stands as a testimony to his legacy.

END


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	NM John C. Powell Profile last updated,April 11, 2005 This Profile was written by Mark Holness, Vice president of the Jamaica Chess Federation. All rights reserved. "" INTRODUCTION National master John C. Powell,a past President of the Jamaica Chess federation and former student of Campion and St.Georges College, first learned the game when he was only Nine years old and participated in his first major chess Tournament when he played in the inaugural Jamaica National chess Championship of 1969. PLAYING STYLE National Master John Powell's playing style is positional with an aggressive edge. His strongest qualities are his determination to fight in tough positions and his strong endgame technique. CAREER HIGHLIGHTS This many time International Olympiad representative was awarded the title of Fide International Arbiter in 1991 and has been a certified senior Jamaica Chess federation Chess Arbiter since 1976. He was awarded the title of National Master in 1975 and was the Jamaica Open Champion of 1978. While he has never won the Jamaica National Chess Championships outright, he tied for first place three times, once in the Jamaica National Chess champs of 1973 and again in 1980 and 1988,but lost on tiebreak to winners NM Harold Chan in 1973 ,NM Robert Wheeler, in 1980 and NM Robert Wheeler again in 1988. This many time Olympiad representative last played for Jamaica in the 1992 Olympiad in Manila and won a silver medal for board 4 in the Olympiad of 1984, which was held in Thessaloniki. At the peak of his career he was considered to be the strongest Jamaican player, never to have won the National Championships. Some highlights of his chess career are as follows; 1992 chess Olympiad in Manila; Represented Jamaica 1988 chess Olympiad in Thessaloniki; Represented Jamaica 1988 Jamaica National Champs;2nd-3rd place 1986 chess Olympiad in Dubai; Represented Jamaica 1984 chess Olympiad in Thessaloniki; Represented Jamaica 1984 Hong Kong Commonwealth Championship 1982 chess Olympiad in Lucerne; Represented Jamaica. 1980 Chess Olympiad in malta 1978 Olympiad in Buenos Aires 1977 Havana, Cuba Triangular Scheveningen (Cuba, Jamaica, Guyana) 1976 Caracas, Venezuela World Students Olympiad 1975 Business House team Champs; Placed 1st 1975 Caribbean Team Tourney in Georgetown, Guyana. 2nd on Brd. 4 to Cuba 1974 El Salvador 1973 Caracas, Venezuela 1972 Central American & Caribbean (CACAC) Chess Team Tour With Harold Chan, Enos Grant, Smith, Fred Cameron and John Powell RECENT TOURNAMENT RESULTS After a long absence from Jamaican chess, NM John Powell is currently leading the 2005 President's Invitational Chess Championships and is the only National master in the field of 12 players.He is the favorite to win the trophy and if he brings home the title, it will mark a very successful return to playing chess in jamaica. CONCLUSION NM John Powell was an extraordinary chess Administrator and junior and schoolboy chess flourished under his watch. At the height of his chess career, National Master John Powell was without a doubt one of the strongest players in his time. His outstanding administrative contributions to chess over the years and his exploits as a player, makes him a legend in his own right. His return to Jamaican chess indicates that the final chapter has not yet been written on John Powell's chess career. The continued success of the junior chess program in Jamaica today, stands as a testimony to his legacy. END

NM JOHN C. POWELL