The Tribune

The local chess community hosted several masters of the sport from across the globe at the 2022 Orjan Lindroth Memorial Open Chess Championship.

Norwegian Grand Master Johan-Sebastian Christiansen won the inaugural event.

To open the tournament, he played a simultaneous exhibition match against 20 Bahamians, including 10 juniors. Christiansen was awarded the titles International Master in 2015 and Grandmaster in 2018 by FIDE.

In second place was a three way tie between IM Daniel Fernandez, FM Shreyas Smith and GM Renier Gonzalez. In third place was CM Nathan Smith. In the U700 Section Kenville Lockhart took first place. In second place it was a tie between Avian Pride, Curtis Pride and Noah Albury. Theophilus Weir finished in third place.

The Best Under 2000 section was CM Kendrick Knowles, FM Cecil Moncur and the Best Under 1800 was CM Byron Small and Shawn Barker.

A total of thirty players, including three international Grand Masters, competed in the event - one from Norway, two from the United States and 14 junior players participated. Other international players included FM Shreyas Smith (Jamaican National Chess Champion) and players from the United Kingdom and Cayman Islands.

CM Kendrick Knowles, President, Bahamas Chess Federation said: “Congratulations to all players, organisers and arbiters on a successful tournament. We saw some amazing young chess talent at this event. We thank our international GMs, IMs and FMs who travelled to participate in this tournament, you strengthened the pool of players for this Championship. Our goal is to make this an annual event which will be able to stand amongst some of the major international chess tournaments. Last, but by no means least, I wish to thank the sponsors of the Orjan Lindroth Memorial Open Chess Championship. Your generous contributions helped to make this event a reality and has assisted greatly in the continued growth and development of chess in The Bahamas. “

Sponsors of Tournament included the Old Fort Bay Club, Bahamas Bone & Joint Center, New Providence Development Company Limited, Amanda Lindroth, Bahamas Chess Institute, The Island Store Lyford Cay, Michael Phillips, Mr & Mrs Charles Stonehill, Mr & Mrs Kiril Sokoloff and The Bahamas Chess Federation.

The tournament is named in honour of the late Mr. Orjan Lindroth, who was a generous supporter of chess in The Bahamas. His unwavering contributions gave many young Bahamians the opportunity to be introduced to chess. It was always the vision for Mr. Lindroth to have a tournament like this in The Bahamas.