Player Profiles - Jamaica

Jamaica Players Competing

1. BRANDON WILSON

Born on the 13^th July, 1988, Brandon Wilson graduated from high school (Ardenne High School in St. Andrew, Jamaica) just last Sunday, 4^th July, 2004.

Brandon has been playing chess for half of his life, having learnt the moves about eight years ago. For about five years he has received serious training at the Liguanea Chess Club under the watchful eyes of NM Geoffrey Byfield and FM Warren Elliott.

Wilson improved rapidly and in 2001 he became cadet champion.

In 2002 he scored 6/9 and placed in the top 20 (out of 160 competitors) in the U-1300 section of the World Open tournament held in Philadelphia, USA. In 2002 he also played impressively to win the prestigious President’s Invitational tournament in Jamaica. Indeed, in the summer of 2002 the well-known Ukrainian chess coach Aleksander Vaisman, who spent a month coaching in Jamaica, said that of many players he had coached (including grandmasters) young Wilson was one of the best talents that he had ever seen at his age and stage!

Arguably Jamaica’s brightest chess talent, Brandon’s star has continued to soar and in 2004, in addition to winning the Gleaner U-20 title, he became Jamaica’s national junior champion finishing ahead of a field which included NM Ras Malaku Lorne and two-time defending national female champion Deborah Richards. Wilson is now rated 1982 locally and well on course to become a national master and move on to greater things in chess.

Ian Wilkinson

President,

Jamaica Chess Federation

Chess: the quintessence of existence  

2. Valence Jordan