From afar you know where the women’s team from Barbados is playing this afternoon. Their dedication to their national colours is apparent in their hair and outfits. The bright yellow and blue stand out against the many grey’s and black’s that are being worn this Olympiad. And while we chat to the girls about chess it is clear that their personality matches their bright outfits!

Barbados is nested among the Caribbean islands.  It is 34 kilometres in length and up to 23 km in width, covering an area of 432 km². As a popular holiday destination and combining its English, African and West Indian roots, Barbados has a very own distinctive identity.

Gabriela with a rating of 1312 is currently the 4th ranked female player in Barbados and Segan with a rating of 1226 is following close behind on the 8th place.

Chesslife: How old were you when you started playing chess?

Gabriela: I was 8 when I started at a chess camp. My 2 older brothers wanted to go and already knew how to play. My mum decided to send me along as well.

Segan: I was 10 when my mother taught me how to play chess.

Chesslife: What is your favourite chess book?

Gabriela: I don’t really have a favourite one.

Segan: Mine is the one my mum bought me ‘How to reassess your chess’ by IM Silman.

Chesslife: How much chess do you study per week?

Gabriela: Around 1 or 2 hours per day. When I practise online I use chesscube.com

Segan: I study around 1 hour per day, but when a tournament is coming up I may increase this to 3-4 hours per day. When I play online I use chess.com or playchess.com

Chesslife: Is this your first Olympiad and what was your first International Tournament?

Gabriela: This is indeed my first Olympiad and my first international tournament was in 2012 in Trinidad, called CARIFTA.

Segan: I played the same tournament, but in 2015.

Chesslife: Who is your favourite player?

Both girls reply in unison ‘Magnus Carlsen!’

Chesslife: What is the junior chess league like in Barbados?

There are not many juniors playing in Barbados. Chess is not a very popular sport and not advertised very well. There are also many more boys than girls.

Chesslife: Do you mind playing boys all the time?

Gabriela: No not at all, it allows me to proof that I can beat the boys

Segan: I don’t mind either, in fact, I prefer playing against boys.

Chesslife: What has chess taught you?

Gabriela: If you want something, you need to put the effort in.

Segan: It has shown me to be dedicated in order to improve. It helps with my school work and focus.

Chesslife: How would you describe your style of play?

Gabriela: I prefer playing positional and like playing the Giuoco Piano. I sometimes play tactical as well. With black I am currently trying new things and have not really got a set repertoire yet.

The Literal translation for Giuoco Piano is translated ‘quiet game’ and begins with the moves 1.e4 e5  2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5

Segan: I definitely enjoy playing positional and play the Scottish with white. I have not developed a style yet with black, but am certainly considering the Caro-Kann as I find the Sicilian far too aggressive.

Chesslife: What was your most memorable game?

Gabriela: That would have been at the subzonal this year in Barbados.

Segan: That was a game against Justin Parsons a 1400 rated player, while I was still unrated. Unfortunately, I do not have the PGN for that.

Click on the board below to find a game from Segan at the CARIFTA tournament in 2015

Chesslife: What are your goals for the future?

Gabriela: To someday become a world champion.

Segan: To become a titled player and to return to another Olympiad.

Click on the board below to review the game from Gabriela against Edit Machlick from Norway in the Olympiad

Chesslife: What advice would you give to Australian Junior Chess Players?

Gabriela: Work Hard! You may have to wait a very long time to see results, they will come. Chess will also provide great opportunities.

Segan: It takes time to grow as a chess player. Make sure the big people notice you and hope for the best.

Click on the board below to find an analysis of a game by Segan against Myra Ollet from Guam during this Olympiad.

Ieon Seak Hin is a 16 year old player from Macau. He is playing board 3 with a rating of 1841 after having competed in the World Youth U16 Olympiad in Slovakia in July. He is currently the top U16 player in Macau and ranked number 19 in his country.

Macau is an autonomous region on the south coast of China, across the Pearl River Delta from Hong Kong. With an estimated population of around 652,500 living in an area of 30.5 km2 (11.8 sq mi), it is the most densely populated region in the world.

We find Ieong in the lobby of his hotel busily preparing for his game against Trinidad & Tobago later that afternoon. He apologizes before hand for his level of English, but we remind him that his English is still much better than our Chinese! Again with the help of Google Translate we start our interview.

Chesslife: How old were you when you started playing chess?
Ieong: I started when I was 4 years old. My grandfather taught me the rules. I then continued playing chess at school. I also know how to play chinese chess.

Chesslife: How much chess do you study per week?
Ieong: I study approximately 2 hours, twice a week, so 4 hours in total. I also use a chinese website {ourgame.com} to practise chess on.

Chesslife: What is your favourite chess book?
Ieong: I love reviewing openings from Encyclopedia’s.

Chesslife: Is this your first Olympiad and what was your first International Tournament?
Ieong: This is my first Olympiad and my first international tournament was in 2008 for the World Youth Championships in Vietnam.

Chesslife: Who is your favourite player?
Ieong: I love Magnus Carlsen’s game style, but I also really like Hou Yifan. She was the first Chinese player I knew.

Chesslife: What is the Junior Chess League like in Macau?
Ieong: It is very small, but growing.

Chesslife: What has chess taught you?
Ieong: It has taught me how to think. It has also improved my school subjects like mathematics.

Chesslife: How would you describe your game style?
Ieong: I love to attack in my big games. If I can find a chance to attack, I will. I especially like to attack Kings side. I am more of a positional with White. For Black I am currently studying the Dragon variation.

Chesslife: What is your most memorable game?
Ieong: The one I played this month in Taiwan. Unfortunately I do not have a PGN available for you.

Chesslife: What are your future goals?
Ieong: I would like to improve and become a better player.

Chesslife: What advice would you give Australian Junior Chess Players?
Ieong: Chess is very good, it gives you a lot of fun and it will help you in your life.

Click on the board below for a review of Ieong’s game in round 2 when he drew against Toby Brookfield from Guernsey.

Today we meet with 17 year old FM Fy Antenaina Rakotomahoro and 15 year old CM Harifidy Milento Ralison from Madagascar. Fy is Madagascar’s board 1 player and is currently sitting at a rating of 2439. Haridify with a rating of 2058 is playing on board 4.

We all know Madagascar of course from the movies created by Dreamworks studio’s. But in real life it is the fourth largest island in the world. On a side note – Greenland is the world’s largest island. Australia is not listed as an island, because it is defined as a continent.

Madagascar is a huge island nation off the southeast coast of Africa. It’s home to thousands of animal species, such as lemurs, which are not found anywhere else.

Fy is top ranked U18 player for the entire continent of Africa and Haridify is currently ranked the 4th in the continent of Africa for the U16 players and 1st in Madagascar (U16).

Chesslife: What age did you start to learn chess?
Fy: I started when I was 7 and was taught by my father
Haridify: I started when I was 5 years old at school

Chesslife: How much chess do you study per week?
Fy: I study every day at least half an hour and more during the school holidays. On of my classic books to study with is Dvoretsky’s Endgame manual {note to readers; this book is really only suitable for players with a rating >2000}.

Another great Endgame book that has just come out is ‘Most Instructive endgames of 2012-2015 by Naiditsch and Balogh. Naiditsch is currently playing on board 3 for Azerbaijan in the Olympiad.

Haridify: When I am preparing for a tournament I study about half an hour every day and I practise regurlarly on playchess.com

Chesslife: What is your favourite Chess book?
Fy: When I started learning chess my favourite book was ‘How to beat your dad at chess’. by Murray Chandler. This was a very useful tool during this time. Currently I really like ‘Can you be a positional chess genius’ by Angus Dunnington {published by Everymanchess}
Haridify: I mainly use online tools, like Fritz and Chessbase to research. I am currently studying openings.

Chesslife: When did you obtain your title?
Fy: I gained my FM title at the Olympiad in Tromso in 2014. I have since gained 2 IM norms and hope to obtain my final IM norm at this Olympiad.
Haridify: I got my CM title just a couple of months ago at the Zonal in Mauritius. I hope to get my FM title at this Olympiad.

Click on the chess board below to find a review of Haridify’s most memorable game against Lova Rafenohery

Chesslife: Is this your first Olympiad and what was your first International Tournament?
Fy: This is my second Olympiad, Tromso in Norway in 2014 was my first Olympiad. My first International Tournament was in 2008 at the Oceania.
Haridify: My first International tournament was at the World Youth in 2011 held in Brazil.

Chesslife: What is your favourite player?
Fy: Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. I have moved to France 3 years ago for study and chess and we now play at the same club.
Haridify: Fabiona Caruana. I like his style of play and he is really cool!

Chesslife: What is the junior chess league like in Madagascar?
Fy and Haridify: There are not many juniors playing in Madagascar, certainly not at the top level.

Chesslife: What does chess mean to you?
Fy: Chess is more than a hobby, it’s my life. I spent a lot of time with chess. Hopefully I can become a professional player one day.
Haridify: It has allowed me to visit many countries, speak other languages and make friends around the world.

Chesslife: How do you describe your style of play?
Fy: I like playing tactical, but I enjoy playing positional as well.
Haridify: I like attacking and tactical play. For example with white I play the scottish.

Chesslife: What is your most memorable game?
Fy: That is easy! In 2015 in Canada when I won against Eric Hansen.

Click on the board below to see an analysis of Fy’s most memorable game

Chesslife: What are your goals?
Fy: I would like to get my third IM norm and then work towards a GM norm. I would also like to play in more international tournaments.
Haridify: I would like to win the African Championships, and become a GM of course!

Click on the board below for a review of Haridify’s game against Richard Forster during the Olympiad

Chesslife: What advice would you give to Australian Junior Chess players?
Fy: Never Give Up!
Haridify: Continue to play chess as it will let you see the world!

Click on the board below for an analysis of Fy’s game against Sebastian Bogner from Switserland during the Olympiad

Fy will be travelling to the World Youth Championships in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia after the Olympiad and may very well be playing against our very own Australian Patrick Gong!

18 year old Tagir with a rating of 2223 plays in the Olympiad on board 5 for his country Kyrgyzstan. He is currently the 6th rated player overall in his country and the top player U18.

But where is Kyrgyzstan we hear you ask – Kyrgyzstan is a Central Asian country along the Silk Road, the ancient trade route between China and the Mediterranean. Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the south west and China to the east. Its capital and largest city is Bishkek.

Click on the chess board below for a review of Tagir’s game against Matej Sebenik (2526) from Slovenia.

We don’t have to travel too far to see junior chess action at the Olympiad. 10 year old Nadia Braganza from New Zealand is playing on board 4. With a current rating of 1367 she will need to fight very hard against some very strong opposition this tournament.

Before the start of round 2, we caught up with her and her mother in their hotel lobby to ask some questions.

Chesslife: How old were you when you started playing chess
Nadia: I started playing chess when I was 8 years old at school when I joined the local chess club.

Chesslife: How much chess do you study per week
Nadia: Approximately 3 hours.

Chesslife: What is your favourite chess book
Nadia: Silman’s Endgames. (This endbook game provides a variety of end games divided into difficulty for every player)

Chesslife: What was your first International Tournament
Nadia: The Commonwealth Games in 2014 in India. I have not played in Australia yet, but look forward to participating in the near future.

Chesslife: What is you favourite player
Nadia: GM Magnus Carlsen. He is a great inspiration for what you can achieve through chess.

Chesslife: What is the Junior Chess League like in New Zealand
Nadia: Growing, there are approximately 35-40 junior players at each tournament. Of these players about 10 are girls.

Auckland Chess Centre is currently working hard on developing their juniors towards a strong World Youth Olympiad team in years to come. Australian Grandmasters Ian Rogers and Daryl Johansen fly out to New Zealand every school holidays to assist with their training.

Chesslife: What is it about chess that you like
Nadia: It is very interesting, never boring. I enjoy it very much. It has helped with my mathematics at school and helped me concentrate.

Chesslife: How do you describe your style of play
Nadia: I have a very active style of play, with lots of attacking and forward play. For black my favourtite opening is the Sicilian Dragon variant. With white I enjoy playing the Giuoco Piano.

The Dragon  Variations is one of the main lines of the Sicilian Defence and begins with the moves: 1.e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 (This is probably one of the most difficult openings in chess)

The Literal translation for Giuco Piano is translated ‘quiet game’ and begins with the moves 1.e4 e5  2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5

Chesslife: What is your most memorable game

Nadia: That was against Kimberly at the Northshore Open (New Zealand). Her mum pipes up and agrees, ‘it was just great to watch how she developed her pieces and moved forwards’.

Click on the board below to see a review of Nadia’s game against Kimberly Yuan.

Chesslife: What are your future goals
Nadia: The ultimate goal is to become a Grandmaster. It will mean I can be very proud of myself and my achievements in chess. It shows I have had the determination to continue working on my chess.

Chesslife: What advice can you give Australian Juniors

Nadia: The more you practise, the more you will achieve.

Great advice Nadia, we look forward to seeing more of you during this Olympiad!

Click on the board below to see a review or Nadia’s first game at this 42nd Olympiad against Melissa Gomez:

On board 1 for Cyprus we find 13 year old CM Konstantinos Michaelides with a rating 2060. He is the youngest player to receive the National Title in Cyprus, which he did in May.  He is currently ranked number 7 in Cyprus.

We had the pleasure of catching up with his father Andreas and his mother to ask them some questions about their chess journey, while Konstantinos is playing his first round against Vietnam.

Chesslife: How old was he when he started playing chess
Andreas: When he was 8,5 years old his grandfather visited for the winter from Siberia and Konstantinos asked him about the game he was playing. Within the 3 month visit, he was beating his grandfather that was sitting at a rating of around 1500.

Chesslife: How much chess does he study per week
Andreas: Twice a week for 2 hours he skypes with his Russian coach IM Konstantin Mesropov, to which he adds approximately another 2 hours each day. Of course this increases around tournaments and decreases a little as school work picks up

Chesslife: What is his favourite chess book
Andreas: He is currently studying the French Defense, but among his favourites are books about the Capablanca. The passion for this book was passed along by his first chess coach FM Antonis Antoniou.

Chesslife: How old was he when he obtained his CM title
Andreas: He was awarded the CM title at the age of 12 when he came second at the World Youth.

 Chesslife: What was his first International Tournament
Andreas: Playing the U10 division at the European Championship in Prague in 2010.

Chesslife: What is his favourite player
Andreas: GM Magnus Carlsen, both for his game style and attitude. He also loves the fact that Magnus plays out of theory. That level of comfort around chess is to be admired.

Chesslife: What is the Junior Chess League like in Cyprus
Andreas: There is currently not a real junior league in Cyprus, it is difficult to find 3 players that would qualify for the World Youth Championships in each category. Women’s chess is almost completely non-existing, which is why there is no Women’s team representing Cyprus at this Olympiad.

Chesslife: What has chess taught him
Andreas: Friendship is on top of the list. But also better planning and discipline. It has taught him to schedule his learning and reading.

Chesslife: How do you describe his style of play
Andreas: Definitely not aggressive, he likes to take his time, prepare and position his pieces. Strategic and Positional. Probably unlike his 9-year-old brother Alexandro says his father, who plays much more aggressively, but that may also be due to age.

At this point in time his father also tells us that his son does not generally like the publicity that his chess gives him. It was in fact his father that had to tell the school that Konstantinos was crowned National Champion.

Chesslife: What is his most memorable game
Andreas: That was at the World Youth Chess Championships in 2015 against Slovakian Victor Gazik.  Click on the board below for a review of the game.

Click on the chess board below for an interactive analysis of Konstantinos’ favourite game:

Chesslife: What are his future goals
Andreas: The ultimate goal is to become a Grandmaster. Which will require constant work, to have a plan and to let nothing distract you from the plan. The next stage will be to try and win tournaments in Greece.

Chesslife: What advice can you give Australian Juniors
Andreas:

To the players – you have to work to achieve results, nothing will come for free. And after an average or bad tournament, you must not be discouraged, this is when you learn the most.

To the parents – Trust the coach you select, your child may not win all the time, but as long as they stay on track and follow the plan there will be improvements in the long run.

Click on the chess board below for an interactive analysis of round 1 in the Olympiad against Ngoc Truong Son Nguyen from Vietnam: