CAC Youth Festival 2013 - San Jose, Costa Rica
Nathan Smith, the young chess phenom, won the gold medal in the Under-8 section of the CAC Youth Festival. Held in Costa Rica between December 11th and 15th, the tournament played host to more than 230 players from 16 Central American and Caribbean countries.
The Bahamas fielded a team of two players to compete for the first time in this premier regional event. Alongside Smith was Daijah Johnson, who entered the Under-10 Female section.
The grueling nine-round tournament grouped competitors in U8, U10, U12, U14, U16, and U18 categories, with play stretched over five days. With each game lasting hours, physical stamina and mental toughness were equally as important as chess skill. Indeed after the final round, no player in this event had a perfect 9.0 score, which speaks to the competitiveness of the field and to the pressure that all had to endure.
Smith finished in a three-way tie for first with 7.0 points, and won on tie-breaks having beaten both of his nearest rivals. Johnson, meanwhile, tallied a total of 4.0 points -- good enough for fifth place in her section.
With his victory, Smith will receive an official invitation to the Pan-American Youth Festival in Mexico City in July 2014.
He has also met the requirements for the Candidate Master (CM) title, which must first be approved by the World Chess Federation (FIDE). No Bahamian has ever been awarded such a prestigious title in chess.
Nathan's final tournament standings can be found at http://www.chess-results.com/tnr118566.aspx?lan=1&art=4&wi=821.
Daijah's results can be found at: http://www.chess-results.com/tnr118710.aspx?lan=1&art=1&wi=821.
The Bahamas fielded a team of two players to compete for the first time in this premier regional event. Alongside Smith was Daijah Johnson, who entered the Under-10 Female section.
The grueling nine-round tournament grouped competitors in U8, U10, U12, U14, U16, and U18 categories, with play stretched over five days. With each game lasting hours, physical stamina and mental toughness were equally as important as chess skill. Indeed after the final round, no player in this event had a perfect 9.0 score, which speaks to the competitiveness of the field and to the pressure that all had to endure.
Smith finished in a three-way tie for first with 7.0 points, and won on tie-breaks having beaten both of his nearest rivals. Johnson, meanwhile, tallied a total of 4.0 points -- good enough for fifth place in her section.
With his victory, Smith will receive an official invitation to the Pan-American Youth Festival in Mexico City in July 2014.
He has also met the requirements for the Candidate Master (CM) title, which must first be approved by the World Chess Federation (FIDE). No Bahamian has ever been awarded such a prestigious title in chess.
Nathan's final tournament standings can be found at http://www.chess-results.com/tnr118566.aspx?lan=1&art=4&wi=821.
Daijah's results can be found at: http://www.chess-results.com/tnr118710.aspx?lan=1&art=1&wi=821.
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