Fide Master Joshua Johnson, the 2024 national Absolute chess champion of T&T, is now the ultimate winner of the Top 8 Invitational tournament held in San Fernando over the last two weekends.
Organised and sponsored by the Southern Chess Club and ChessWork, the tournament was used as a medium to showcase the adopted theme of ‘Only The Best – Over The Board’ by allowing the international chess site- Lichess.org to broadcast the games live to audiences around the world and at home.
FM Johnson added 31 points to his fide rating based on his performance among former and present champions with 6 1/2 out of 7 points. He is now on par in terms of rating, with second-placed IM Alan-Safar Ramoutar who ended the tournament on 5 1/2 points. IM Ramoutar, although undefeated like the winner, drew games against FM McIntosh, FM Winter-Atwell and the Caribbean Games silver medalist as well.
In an interview, FM Johnson admitted his toughest games were against IM Vishnu Singh in round 5 followed by his encounter with IM Ramoutar in round 6. Other players who featured in this tough event were FM Isaiah McIntosh (3rd), FM Ryan Harper (4th), IM Vishnu Singh (5th), FM Adrian Winter-Atwell (6th), WCM Obdulis Hermoso Rodriguez (7th) and Anderson Gordon who had to accept medical advice and withdrew after four rounds.
Fide Master and coach Johnson collected a silver trophy, a $1,500 cash award and together with all the players and administrators involved, personal mementos. Second-placed IM Ramoutar collected a $1,000 prize and FM McIntosh received $700 for third place.
All other players who played their quota of games and arbiters Noel and Sears collected three-figure sums and commemorative plaques in appreciation of their collective ability in the tournament.
Showing personal support for the initiative of the sponsors, the president of the national association, Sonja Johnson was on hand to distribute prizes and motivate players to be the best they can be signalling the end of a prestigious event.
