THE Bermuda International Open, that took place from February 9-11, attracted only 13 local players. The number of entries was down considering it has been up to 25-plus and up to 65 for the international players.

One of the local players is Raymond Trott (pictured) better known as Ray. To Trott, it is always good to play with an international players. He informed me in late January to put him on the list so that he did not miss this tournament.

When arbiter Carol Jarecki made up the pairings for this tournament, she entered Trott at a rating of 1618; this means he is a strong player.

In the end Trott won two of his five matches. Also, because he had such strong FIDE-rated opponents, along with his wins, his rating jumped by 50 points.

Talking about strong players, the news has just come in that FIDE, the game’s world’s governing body, has named two players from our Olympiad team Candidate Masters — Nick Faulks and Sami Lill.

This really is history for Bermuda. If you go to the web site fidge/fie.com then to ratings, players and Bermuda (or their names) you’ll see their personal card.

They now have a big “C” by their name, which is also the first step to becoming a Grandmaster. Now getting back to Trott, who is also gaining in strength.

This week, I’m highlighting the game he won in the third round. Bobby Miller is playing white and Trott is playing black.

In diagram 1, if Trott had moved his rook a to e8 the king would been have cut off.

In diagram 2, if Miller moves his king he will lose a rook with move 29 king f1. Trott then moves rook h1+, then after Queen x Queen rook x Queen the a rook is free.

In diagram 3, Miller is trying to get his king to a good square and away from another rook-check.

Once you look at diagram 4, you will see that it’s mate in one and so did Miller who resigned.

White:Bobby Miller

Black: Ray Trott<$>

Bermuda International Open

1. e4 c5 2. f4 e6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. b3 a6 6. Be2 Nf6 7. e5 Nh5 8. g3 g6 9. Ne4 0-0 10. Bb2 d5 11. Nf6+ Nxf6 12. exf6 Bxf6 13. Bxf6 Qxf6 14. h4 e5 15. h5 exf4 16. hxg6 fxg6 17. g4 Bxg4 18. Kf2 Bxf3 19. Bxf3 Qd4+ 20. Kg2 Rf5 21. Rf1 Rg5+ 22. Kh1 Qg7 23. Rf2 Nd4 24. c3 Nxf3 25. Qxf3 Qe5 26. Qxf4 Rh5+ 27. Kg1 Qg5+ 28. Qxg5 Rxg5+ 29. Kh1 Re8 30. Raf1 Re4 31. Rf8+ Kg7 32. R8f7+ Kh6 33. R1f2 Re1+ 34. Kh2 Rh5+ 35. Kg2 b5 36. Ra7 Rg5+ 37. Kh2 c4 38. bxc4 dxc4 39. Rff7 Rh5+ 40. Kg3 Kg5 41. Rxa6 Rh4 42. Kf3 Reh1 43. Rd7 Rf4+ 44. Ke2 Rf5 45. Rad6 Kg4 46. a4 Kg3 47. d4 Rf2>

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