GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) — Jamaica won their first-ever Caricom Classic Team Chess tournament in spectacular fashion after Barbados shocked defending champions Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) in the penultimate round on Sunday.

At the end of the competition, Jamaica emerged victorious on 29.5 points, a mere half-point ahead of T&T, with Suriname third on 25.5 points and Barbados fourth on 22.5 points.

T&T entered the eighth round against Barbados in a strong position to repeat as champions, but were shocked 2.5-1.5 by the Barbadians.

For Barbados, Emar Edwards upset Fide Master Joshua Johnson on the top board and Women’s Candidate Master Chanon Reifer-Belle defeated Women’s Fide Master Ysvett Hermoso Rodriguez, while Kemp Lynch drew with Fide Master Kevin Cupid.

T&T’s only victory came from Zara La Fleur, who defeated Leshay Springer.

Meanwhile, Jamaica was held to a 2-2 draw by Suriname, to set up a thrilling finish to the competition.

Jamaica stormed to a 3-1 victory over Barbados in the last round, while T&T defeated Guyana A 3.5-0.5, but it was not enough to deny Jamaica their maiden title.

In the Under-16 individual title, Barbados’s Mileke Sinckler captured the top spot on 6.5 points, edging countrymen Noah Clarke on the tiebreak and Aaron Jaikaran, who finished third on six points.