Top-seeded Cuban chess player Kendry Daniel Morales Mora dominated the field to capture first place in the Absolute Category in the Promenade Chess Club “I Love Chess” Tour stop in Gulf View Pizza Hut, San Fernando, on Saturday (September 11).
Morales Mora, the lone foreign player, set a blistering pace from the opening bell in the atrium, sweeping seven consecutive victories. His only draw came in round eight against junior standout Caleb Harry, but he swiftly recovered in the final round to defeat Levi Huggins and seal the overall title with an outstanding 8.5 points out of 9.
Organised by Hayden Lee and overseen by Chief Arbiter Keevin James, the FIDE-registered Swiss-system event brought together 23 players for nine rounds of blitz chess under a strict time control of five minutes plus a three-second increment per move.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Simon Ramdath secured second place overall with 7.5 points, with his sole loss coming against Morales Mora in round four before reeling off five straight wins. Ty Humphrey claimed third place in the Absolute division on 6.5 points after defeating Sameer Sookraj in the final round.
In the Junior Category, Omari Bernard finished fourth overall to take first place with 6.0 points, followed by Sameer Sookraj (5.5) and Caleb Harry (5.0).
The Female Category was spearheaded by Sandhya Ramsaroop, who took first place with 5.0 points, while Adria Edwards and Aliyah Edwards rounded out the podium with 2.5 and 2.0 points, respectively.
The Promenade Chess Club Pizza Hut “I Love Chess” Tour shifts to its next stop on Friday (September 18). Players will meet at Pizza Hut, South Park Mall, for an evening competition running from 6 pm to 10 pm.
Results
Absolute: 1 Kendry Daniel Morales Mora 8.5, 2 Simon Ramdath 7.5, 3 Ty Humphrey 6.5
Female: 1 Sandhya Ramsaroop 5, 2 Adria Edwards 2.5, 3 Aliyah Edwards 2
Junior: 1 Omari Bernard 6, 2 Sameer Sookraj 5.5, 3 Caleb Harry 5
