FIDE Candidate Master Malaku Lorne defeated FIDE Master Warren Elliott in a two-game blitz chess play-off match, 1.5-0.5, to win the Millionaire Chess Qualifier which ended on Sunday at the Jamaica Olympic Association Head Office.

Lorne went into the final round as the sole leader with 4.5 points from five games, only a half point ahead of tournament favourite and current Jamaica National champion Elliott, who was on four points.

In the final round, Elliott faced veteran Eton Chin, who he dispatched fairly easily to end on five points. Lorne, however, had to endure a close battle with another veteran, National Master (NM) Geoffrey Byfield, before earning a draw.

Lorne and Elliott, therefore, ended regulation play tied on five points each and had to play a two-game play-off match to determine the winner of the tournament.

Lorne registered a relatively easy 1.5-0.5 victory over Elliott to win the play-off match and the qualifier, and with it a free entry worth US$1,500 to the Millionaire Chess Open, scheduled to take place from October 8-11, 2015 at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

Lorne’s airfare and accommodation in Las Vegas will also be covered as part of his prize for winning the qualifier.

The qualifier was sponsored by the Millionaire Chess Open, the Kasparov Chess Foundation, the Jamaica Olympic Association, and Christar Villas Hotel.

Complete final standings: Malaku Lorne 5, Warren Elliott 5, Andrew Mellace 4, Geoffrey Byfield 3.5, Michael Diedrick, Robert Wheeler 3, Ian Wilkinson 3, Eton Chin 3, Deborah Richards-Porter 2, Mark Holness 2, Daren Wisdom 1.5, Markland Douglas 1.5.