Jamaican chess player heads to US tournament

Jamaican chess player

heads to US tournament

RAS Malaku Lorne, the Jamaican World Chess Federation (?FIDE?) Candidate Master, left Jamaica for Las Vegas, Nevada, United States of America yesterday to compete in the 2015 edition of the Millionaire Chess Open which started yesterday. Lorne guaranteed his participation after winning the thrilling Jamaican satellite qualifying event held August 5-9, 2015.

The ?rasta master? has been one of Jamaica?s best players for the past twelve years, his break-out year occurring in 2003 when he won the NM Dr Harold Chan Open tournament ahead of stalwarts such as Shane Matthews, the Jamaican legend and many-time national champion. That same year he tied for second in the Jamaican Championship and was awarded the National Master title.

Some of his other outstanding achievements include playing board one for his alma mater, Wolmer?s Boy?s School, and winning the All-Island high schools championship; first in the Jamaica Observer championship (2002); winning the New Year?s Open (2006); winning the New Providence Invitational, Bahamas (2006); and winning the John Powell Memorial Open (2014).

He debuted for Jamaica at the World Chess Olympiad in Calvia, Mallorca, Spain (2004) and returned to the Olympiad scene in Tromso, Norway (2014) where he earned his FIDE Candidate Master title.

Lorne?s participation in the 2015 Millionaire Chess Open has been made possible by sponsorship from the Millionaire Chess Open organisers, the Kasparov Chess Foundation and the Jamaica Chess Federation.