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2004 NATIONAL CHESS CHAMPS

2004 National Champs Games - Final Schedule- Presidents Inv Games-

REPORTS

FINAL STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 11

FM Warren Elliott 8/9
NM Russel Porter 7/9
NM Shane Matthews 6/9
NM Duane Rowe 5/9
NM Robert Wheeler 4.5/9
NM Malaku Lorne 4/9
NM Mark Holness 4/9
NM Bertram Scott 4/9
Daren Wisdom 1.5/9
Deborah Richards 1/9

ROUND 11 RESULTS -SUN. MARCH 29

NM Mark holness vs NM Duane Rowe 1-0*
FM Warren Elliott vs NM R. Wheeler 1/2-1/2
Nm Malaku Lorne (Bye)1/2-1/2
Deborah Richards (bye)
Daren Wisdom vs Bertram Scott 0-1*
NM Shane Matthews vs NM R. Wheeler 1/2-1/2

ROUND 10 RESULTS -SAT. MARCH 28

NM Duane Rowe (Bye) 1-0
NM Malaku Lorne vs FM Warren Elliott 1/2-1/2
NM Mark Holness VS Nm Malaku Lorne 1/2-1/2
Bertram Scott vs Deborah Richards 1-0
Daren Wisdom (Bye)
NM Shane Matthews vs NM R. Wheeler 1/2-1/2

ROUND 9 RESULTS -SUN. MARCH 22

NM Duane Rowe vs NM Shane Matthews 1-0
NM Malaku Lorne vs FM Warren Elliott1/2-1/2
Daren Wisdom vs NM Mark Holness 0-1
Deborah Richards Bye
Bertram Scott Bye
NM Robert Wheeler (Bye)

NINTH ROUND REPORT (21st March, 2004)

By Ian Wilkinson, President, JCF

With Bertram Scott again “resting” and Deborah Richards getting some respite, interesting events unfolded on the battlefield. Elliott played the Tarrasch variation of the Queen’s Gambit Declined but gained nothing against Lorne’s solid play with the white pieces and had to settle for a draw on the 28th move, bringing his winning streak to a grinding halt.

Porter handed the veteran Wheeler his first defeat of the tournament after Wheeler, playing the English opening, blundered with 40.Kh2?? and resigned three moves later when the loss of his queen was imminent. The correct 40.Kg1 would have given him a chance for a draw. Holness, after going winless for five straight games, had his second win in a row, his French defence (Tarrasch) easily routing a hapless Wisdom who is obviously in a crisis.

The marquee game of the round was the clash between Rowe and Matthews (pictured below), reprising their epic, decisive encounter in the final round of the 2003 championships. Rowe, again with the White pieces, faced the Sicilian Scheveningen and gained sweet revenge, blowing Matthews off the board, the defending champion resigning after Rowe’s 32.Bg5+ with mate just a few moves away. After the smoke had cleared the points

standings are as follows:1. Elliott 6½/7; 2.Porter 6½/8; 3.Rowe 5/7; 4.Matthews 5/7; 5.Wheeler 3½/7; 6.Lorne 3½/8; 7.Holness 2½/7; 8.Scott 2/7; 9.Wisdom 1½/8 and 10.Richards 1/8.

ROUND 8 RESULTS -SUN. MARCH 21

NM Russel Porter vs NM Duane Rowe 1-0
NM Shane Matthews vs NM Malaku Lorne 1-0
FM Warren Elliott vs Daren Wisdom 1-0
NM Mark Holness vs Deborah Richards 1-0
Bertram Scott Bye
NM Robert Wheeler vs NM Russel Porter 0-1

EIGHTH ROUND (20th March, 2004)
By Ian Wilkinson, President, JCF

FM Warren Elliott maintained his great form to notch his sixth straight victory with a ruthless demolition of candidate master Daren Wisdom’s Benoni which ran into mate on the 29th move. NM Russel Porter stayed in contention for the title by profiting from NM Duane Rowe’s error (36…Rxh2??) to win a piece, and the game (with 37.Rxc7+) in what was a watchful English opening.

The defending champion NM Shane Matthews won his fifth straight game easily defeating NM Ras Malaku Lorne’s listless Caro-Kann. Deborah Richards, the second woman to play in the championships after the pioneering Dr. Hope Anderson, will have to wait another day for her first victory as her King’s Indian defence was no match for the Montegonian NM Mark Holness who had his first win of the campaign. NM Robert Wheeler and Bertram Scott had byes.

ROUND 7 STANDINGS

STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 7

FM Warren Elliott 5/5
NM Russel Porter 4.5/6
NM Duane Rowe 4/5
NM Shane Matthews 4/5
NM Robert Wheeler 3.5/6
NM Malaku Lorne 3/6
NM Bertram Scott 2/7
Daren Wisdom 1.5/6
Deborah Richards 1/7
NM Mark Holness .5/5

ROUND 7 RESULTS -SUN. MARCH 14

Bertram Scott vs NM Mark Holness 1-0
Deborah RichardsVS FM Warren Elliott 0-1
Daren WisdomNM Shane Matthews vs 0-1
NM Malaku Lorne vs NM Russel Porter 1/2-1/2
NM Duane Rowe vs NM Robert Wheeler 1/2-1/2

ROUND 6 RESULTS -SUN. MARCH 14

NM Mark Holness (bye)
FM Warren Elliott VS Bertram Scott 1-0
NM Shane Matthews vs Deborah Richards 1-0
NM Russel Porter vs Daren Wisdom 1-0
NM Robert Wheeler vs Malaku Lorne 1/2-1/2
NM Duane Rowe (Bye)

ROUND 5 RESULTS -SAT. MARCH 13

NM Mark Holness (bye)
FM Warren Elliott (bye)
Bertram Scott vs NM Shane Matthews 0-1
Deborah Richards vs NM Russel Porter 0-1
Daren Wisdom vs NM Robert Wheeler 0-1
NM Malaku Lorne vs NM Duane Rowe 0-1

FIFTH ROUND (13th March, 2004)

In fifth round action (both NM Mark Holness and FM Elliott had byes) a lot of blood was spilt on the battlefield. The veteran NM Robert Wheeler had his first victory after using the Sicilian to demolish Daren Wisdom in just 31 moves. Wisdom resigned when mate was just one move away.

Bertram Scott put up a spirited fight with the White pieces but fell to NM Shane Matthews who seems to be gaining momentum with each round. The teacher taught the student a lesson as NM Russel Porter faced his English Opening and beat his protégé Deborah Richards in 41 moves.

NM Malaku Lorne played the English Opening against NM Duane Rowe and although lucky to survive his middlegame problems (for example, Rowe missed 23…Bd3! -+), blundered with 66.Bxe7?? and ended up in a lost pawn endgame.

REPORT 4

FM Elliott MAINTAINS slim lead after 4 rounds

STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 4

FM Warren Elliott 3/3
NM Duane Rowe 2.5/3
NM Malaku Lorne 2/3
NM Russel Porter 2/3
NM Robert Wheeler 1.5/3
NM Shane Matthews 1/2
NM Bertram Scott 1/3
Deborah Richards 1/4
NM Mark Holness .5/4

ROUND 4 RESULTS

NM Shane Matthews (bye)
FM Warren Elliott vs NM Mark Holness 1-0
NM Russel Porter vs Bertram Scott 1-0
NM Malaku Lorne(Bye)
NM Duane Rowe vs Daren Wisdom 1-0
NM R. Wheeler vs Deborah Richards 1/2-1/2

FOURTH ROUND REPORT (7th March, 2004)
BY Ian Wilkinson. President. JCF

On Sunday, 7th March, 2004 there were some hardfought games. With Matthews and Lorne having byes, Richards continued to show improved form, holding the veteran Wheeler to a draw with the Black pieces in an offbeat Sicilian. Indeed, Richards, who had earlier won the exchange, could have played for a win with 36….Qc8+-+ with the poisonous threat of 37…Qc2 when Wheeler would have been walking a tightrope. She, however, continued 37…Nd7?! when the shrewd Wheeler neutralized any threats and the truce was agreed after his 38th move.

NM Porter, Richards’ coach and mentor, easily used his English opening to dispatch Scott after the latter blundered (19…Bxf6??) and lost a piece after the riposte 20.Bxc6!+-. NM Rowe faced his “student” and training partner, candidate master Wisdom, and both engaged in a King’s pawn opening slugfest before Wisdom’s final mistake resulted in Rowe serving up mate on a beautiful platter with 29.Ng6#. In the final game of the round, Elliott continued his dominance over Holness’ French Defence winning on his 47th move when Holness was about to suffer further haemorrhaging.

ROUND 3 RESULTS

NM Mark Holness vs NM Shane Matthews 1-0
FM Warren Elliott (Bye)
NM Russel Porter (bye)
Bertram Scott vs NM Robert Wheeler 1/2-1/2
Daren Wisdom (Bye)
Deborah Richards vs Duane Rowe 1/2-1/2

THIRD ROUND REPORT (6th March, 2004)

Both Elliott and Porter had byes and were curious spectators. Bertram Scott and NM Wheeler took a day off agreeing to a draw after just twelve moves in a placid Caro-Kann. Deborah Richards got on the board as NM Rowe tried valiantly to break down her English opening but could not in the ensuing rook ending and after 53 moves a peace treaty was signed.

Daren Wisdom faced Lorne’s Caro-Kann and missed several winning continuations (27.Nc4!+-, 32.Kg2 !+- and 33.Kh2 !+-) allowing Lorne to liquidate into a drawn queen ending.

NM Matthews, the seven-time national champion, won his first game of the tournament using the Queen’s Indian defence to outclass Holness

FM Elliott leads 2004 Champs after 2 rounds

After 2 rounds of the 2004 National Chess Champs, FM Warren Elliott cruised to an early lead, when he beat defending champ, NM Shane Matthews, in a tricky rook ending.

In round one FM Elliott had defeated NM Russel Porter who was unlucky not to convert his opening advantage.

In other Round 2 matches, Duane Rowe defeated Bertram Scott, NM Russel Porter defeated NM Mark Holness, Malaku Lorne defeated female Champion, Deborah Richards, while NM Robert Wheeler received a Bye.

See Round 1 and 2 results listed below:

ROUND 2 RESULTS

NM Shane Matthews vs FM Warren Elliott 0-1
NM Russel Porter vs NM Mark Holness 1-0
NM Robert Wheeler (Bye)
NM Duane Rowe vs Bertram Scott 1-0
Daren Wisdom (Bye)
Malaku Lorne vs Deborah Richards 1-0

SECOND ROUND REPORT (29th February, 2004)

In second round action (both NM Robert Wheeler and Daren Wisdom had byes) Ras Malaku Lorne turned back Deborah Richards’ Queen’s Gambit Declined, winning in 41 moves. NM Russel Porter’s English Opening faced NM Mark Holness’ Dutch defence but Porter benefited from Holness’ inaccuracy (26…d5 ?) to grab the initiative, gradually wearing down the Montegonian and inducing further errors. When Holness resigned after Porter’s 34th move, mate was imminent.

The perennially-present Bertram Scott played well with the Black pieces but his Sicilian perished agaist NM Duane Rowe after Scott missed the potentially winning 27…Qf2 !, when both Scott’s rook and queen would have invaded Rowe’s second rank, setting White unpleasant problems.


In the feature clash, FM Warren Elliott’s talisman continued to work wonders. Entering the rook ending a pawn down and with his back against the wall, Elliott, who had earlier chosen the Sicilian Dragon, snatched victory from the jaws of defeat against NM Shane Matthews whose wretched run against Jamaica’s new number one continued.

ROUND 1 RESULTS

NM Shane Matthews (Bye)
FM Warrren Elliott vs NM Russel Porter 1-0
NM Holness vs NM NM Robert Wheeler 1/2-1/2
NM Duane Rowe (bye)
Bertram Scott vs Malaku Lorne 1/2-1/2
Deborah Richards vs Daren Wisdom 0-1

Standings after ROUND 2

FM Warren Elliott 2/2
NM Malaku Lorne 1.5/2
NM Duane Rowe 1/1
Daren Wisdom 1/1
NM Russel Porter 1/2
NM Robert Wheeler .5/1
Bertram Scott .5/ 2
NM Mark Holness .5/2
NM Shane Mattews 0/1
Deborah Richards 0-2

REPORT 2

The final draw for the 2004 National Chess Champs is complete and the revised format will see Eleven of the Islands strongest chess players compete in an 11 Round Round Robin Competition with each player getting a bye.

Included in the lineup are Seven National Masters and One Fide master, which include Defending Champ, NM Shane Matthews, Jamaica's number one player, FM Warren Elliott and Jamaica's newest National Master and Junior chess player,NM Malaku Lorne.

36^th Jamaican National Chess Championship, 2004

Pairing Table

REPORT 1

By NM Mark Holness Vice President, Cornwall

INVITEES

Defending Champion NM Shane Matthews, and invitees:- Equitable Brown, Markland Douglas, FM Warren Elliott, Humphrey Gayle, NM Mark Holness, Obinna Ikeako, Malaku Lorne, Andrew Mellace, Alain Morais, NM Jomo Pitterson, NM Russel Porter, Deborah Richards, NM Duane Rowe, Bertram Scott, NM Robert Wheeler, Brandon Wilson, and Daren Wisdom

DEADLINES

The closing date for entries is February 7, 2004 and no entries will be accepted after this date.

PRIZES:

Prizes will be as follows unless otherwise announced:- 1st – J$8000,
2nd – J$6000, 3rd – J$5000, 4th – J$4000, 5th – J$3000, 6th – J$2000

FORMAT:

FIDE rated 9 Round Swiss

The time control will be the FIDE time control of 40/100 + 30s, unless otherwise announced

SCHEDULE:

Schedule

Date Time Event

February 8, 1.00 p.m. Pairings for Rd. 1
February 28, 1.00 p.m. Opening Ceremony
February 28, 2.00 p.m. Round 1
February 29, 2.00 p.m Round 2
March 6 , 2.00 p.m. Round 3
March 7, 2.00 p.m Round 4
March 13, 2.00 p.m. Round 5
March 14, 2.00 p.m Round 6
March 20, 2.00 p.m Round 7
March 21, 2.00 p.m. Round 8
March 27, 2.00 p.m Round 9
March 27, 6.30 p.m. Closing Ceremony

Pairings: Pairings for the following round will be announced after the end of each round, wherever possible.

Rescheduling: Each player will be entitled to 1 (ONE) rescheduling of a game. Any rescheduling of a game must be done AT LEAST 24 hours before the scheduled date, in consultation with the Chief Arbiter. All rescheduled games must be played before the regular time scheduled for the game.

Appeals: The fee for making an appeal will be J$ 500 which will be refundable if the appeal is upheld.

Time Control: The time control will be the FIDE time control of 40 moves in 100 minutes with a time increment of 30 seconds per move from move 1, unless otherwise announced.

Reports - Schedule - Format - Prizes - Games in PGN -