2010 John Powell Open (Jamaica)
Jamaica will hold its 2010 John Powell Open on January 30th-31st. The tournament is in the honor of one of the federation’s founding members. Powell passed away in 2007. Below is the press release from Peter Myers.
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR THE JAMAICA CHESS FEDERATION
DATE JANUARY 28, 2010
National Master John Powell (left) contemplates his next move during his last game played three days before his passing in October 2007.
The Jamaica Chess Federation (JCF) will be staging the third John Powell Memorial Chess Open at the Campion College Auditorium this weekend. The tournament will be divided into three sections, an Open section in which anyone can play, an Intermediate section for entrants with a JCF rating under 1600 and an Amateur section for entrants with a JCF rating under 1300.
Prizes will be awarded to the top three players in each section, the best Under 10, 12 and 14 year-old players, best rural player, best female player, best junior and best new player.
The tournament, which was previously called the New Year’s Open, was renamed in honour of National Master John Powell, a founding member of the JCF and former President, who passed away in October of 2007.
Powell was considered to be an extraordinary chess administrator who was one of the catalysts for the growth and development of the sport in Jamaica, particularly at the secondary school level during the 1980s and early 1990s.
Powell was also one of the strongest players in Jamaica at the height of his chess-playing career during the 1970s and 1980s, achieving the title of National Master in 1975. He was widely considered to be the strongest Jamaican player never to have won the National Championships outright. He tied for first three times, 1973, 1980 and 1988, however he lost on tiebreak to NM Harold Chan in 1973, NM Robert Wheeler in 1980 and NM Robert Wheeler again in 1988.
Powell represented Jamaica at many Chess Olympiads, winning a silver medal for Jamaica on board 4 in the Olympiad of 1984, which was held in Thessaloniki, Greece.
Powell was still actively playing up to his untimely passing in 2007.
Full details here!
A truly great player and a fabulous ambassador for chess. I was extremely saddened by his passing which created an immense void. Although I knew him for approximately 3 years before he died, I felt as if I had known him my entire life. I had first-hand experience of his strength during several meetings over-the-board (our personal score was tied with a win each and an epic 70-move draw when I had the Black pieces in a Nimzo-Indian a couple months before he died). I was fortunate not to face him at the height of his powers!
Even though the advancing years and some personal problems had obviously taken their toll, he was still a formidable player. This was displayed in January, 2006, the year before he died, when he proved his pedigree by drawing with none other than the great English GM and world championship contender/finalist Nigel Short on the black side of a Sicilian during a simultaneous exhibition at the Norman Manley Law School in Kingston, Jamaica.
Our bond grew as we played for the same team (“King Rippers”) in the inaugural Jamaican chess league in its first two years (2006-2008). I enjoyed his company especially when he visited my home to play training games with a couple of budding players, analyse etc.
Few persons loved chess as much as John Powell did (John Tobisch immediately comes to mind!). Chess was his life and took pride of place ahead of boxing, a sport in which he also excelled being the heavyweight champion of Jamaica and clashing on one occasion internationally with the legendary Cuban amateur champion Teofilo Stevenson.
More will be written about his life and legacy to our beloved chess – what was the game of kings but is now the king of games!!
May his soul (chesswise and otherwise!!) rest in peace.
Ian Wilkinson
President
Jamaica Chess Federation
I would not be where I am today chesswise if it were not for John Powell’s commitment to the sport. He single-handedly ran the national schools tournament when I was playing schools chess and then he brought me onto the Executive Council of the Jamaica Chess Federation. I was very honoured that he thought I was worthy at such a young age to be part of the Council.
I am sorry that I didn’t get a chance to tell him before him before his death, but I have patterned my own chess life very close to his, remarkably close.
In the wake of t he John Powell Memorial I would like to say that John Powell had a huge impact on me as a young junior and helped to influence me as a coach as well. As a teenager John Powell would invite me to his house stocked with chess sets and books and practised chess with his daughter Melanie.
He had sufficient trust in me and my ability to send me to represent Jamaica in Barbados and Trinidad in 1988 and in Barbados and Puerto Rico in 1989 where Jomo, Grantel and I met the young Topalov and others. His methodical approach to chess training and his mentoring powers were immense.A part of my growing up came under this gentle giant of Jamaican chess.
He encouraged me as a coach and again entrusted me with the task of coaching the Jamaican Junior team to Germany in 1992 and to Trinidad in 1993.When he heard that I started teaching chess in schools he was really enthused.I will never forget how he would counsel me on the importance of the endgame and his anecdotes from the Olympiad.I was able to pass this on to my former pupils,Duane Rowe,Jomo Pitterson, Ryan Palmer,Malaku Lorne and so many others who have gone on to excel.
Every time I play a serious game I remember some piece of wisdom he brought to my attention.He loved serious chess players and he loved those who had an immense work ethic in training and at the board.He was a perfectionist in many ways and always wanted his daughters to succeed.Like all of us he was not perfect however he will be remembered for his gargantuan contribution to the development of Jamaica’s leading players.
The Memorial is an appropriate way in which to honour one of the founding fathers of Jamaican Chess.May the selfless spirit of his work be manifested in those who who he influenced and may his soul find solace and rest.
Wonderful work Jamaica and thanks for the Chess Teacher , Bob Marley!!! PEACE.
After thirty years without communication with John C. Powell, then I meet him again, for only one year. He was a very good friend! I will remember him all the time.
Luz Maria
of Switzerland