Jamaican National Champion Andrew Mellace emerged as sole leader at the conclusion of the 6th round of action in the Digicel Heroes Day Candidates chess tournament, being played at the Amaryllis Hotel.
Mellace entered the 6th round on 4.5 points, half point behind tournament leader Kevin Cupid of Trinidad and Tobago after being held to a draw by Barbados’ CAC U18 gold medalist Candidate Master Orlando Husbands in round 5.
This set a top of the table clash between Mellace and Cupid. Mellace’s greater experience shone through as he won a complicated end game.
Andrew Mellace (Jamaica)
Bryan Prescod, one the previous tournament leaders suffered a major setback when went down in rounds 5 and 6. This allowed other players to enter the contention as the 9 round event moves into the concluding rounds, thus setting up an intriguing 7th round.
In round 7, Cuba’s Roberto Castillo squares off against tournament leader Mellace on board one. On board 2 Cupid meets the St. Philip veteran Othniel Harewood, who after a slow start has fought his way back into contention, and Trinidad’s Esan Wiltshire will face Guyana’s Anthony Drayton on board 3.
In the Digicel Masters, International Master Kevin Denny went down against Jamaica’s Fide Master Shane Matthews thus allowing Grandmaster Mesgen Amanov to regain the lead on 4.5 points.
Othniel Harewood
Trailing are Matthews on 4 points, Denny on 3.5 points, Fide Masters Ryan Harper and Delisle Warner on 2.5 and International Master Terry Farley on 1 point.
The tournament concludes on Wednesday May 01, at the Amaryllis Hotel, Hastings Christ Church with round 8 at 9:00a.m and round 9 at 3:00pm.
Rohan Waithe
Allan Herbert
Barbados Chess Federation
Shane Matthews
