Jamaica topped their first‑ever CARICOM Basic Workforce Chess champions in a pulsating end at Georgetown’s Pegasus Suites and Company Centre, edging defending titlists Trinidad and Tobago by the slimmest of margins—29½ factors to 29—after 9 nerve‑jangling rounds.
Trinidad and Tobago carried a commanding lead into Sunday’s penultimate spherical, solely to be ambushed 2½‑1½ by a fearless Barbadian quartet.
Emar Edwards shocked FIDE Grasp Joshua Johnson on high board. Ladies’s Candidate Grasp Chanon Reifer‑Belle out‑maneuvered Ladies’s FIDE Grasp Ysvett Hermoso Rodriguez.
Kemp Lynch secured a gritty draw in opposition to FIDE Grasp Kevin Cupid.
T&T’s lone vibrant spot was Zara La Fleur, who overcame Leshay Springer, however the injury was executed—Barbados had blown the title race broad open.
Suriname’s stalemate units up a shoot‑out
Concurrently, a resolute Surinamese aspect held Jamaica to a 2‑2 draw, leaving every little thing to play for within the closing spherical. The leaderboard tightened, rigidity soared, and the Pegasus ballroom braced for a ultimate showdown worthy of a grandmaster thriller.
With future in their very own fingers, Jamaica unleashed a 3‑1 demolition of Barbados. Moments later, phrase filtered by means of that T&T had routed Guyana A 3½‑½—however the arithmetic had been cruel. Jamaica’s earlier half‑level cushion proved decisive, sealing a historic maiden crown for the Reggae Knights.
Remaining standings
| Rank | Workforce | Factors |
| 1 | Jamaica | 29.5 |
| 2 | Trinidad & Tobago | 29.0 |
| 3 | Suriname | 25.5 |
| 4 | Barbados | 22.5 |
Sinckler leads youth cost
Within the Underneath‑16 particular person occasion, Barbados celebrated contemporary glory as Mileke Sinckler clinched the title with 6½ factors, edging compatriot Noah Clarke on tiebreak. Aaron Jaikaran accomplished a Bajan sweep of the rostrum on 6 factors.
