Between The Pages
Jamaica’s ‘Chess’ Author
By RT
Nov 25, 2004, 3:51pm

Sir Howard Cooke, Govenor General & Ian Wilkins

Jamaican tends to say, “we are the best at any sport, just name it, and we will find a way of achieving it.” Ian Wilkinson, president of the Jamaica Chess Federation has completed his book entitled ‘Magnificence In Blend: The 35^th Chess Olympiad’. By now, I guess the burning question is; “What Jamaicans Know About Chess?” Well apparently a lot, if he can write a book about it. 

Ian Wilkinson journey with ‘Chess’ began after he had purchased a game set for a little boy. The boy's curiousity about the game grew into questions which was projected at him. Not sure of the answers Wilkinson decided to learn the game. He would get his hands on any informative source, which later led to his admiration and love for the game.

Patrons At The Book Launch

He entered his first tournament in 2000 and was made captain by 2002. He was elected president of the Federation in 2003 and was later awarded the ‘Jamaica Chess Federation’s Inaugural Chess Journalist Of The Year’ for 2002.

Apart from his love for Chess, Wilkinson, born in Kingston, Jamaica, where he currently resides, is a lawyer by profession, and a lecturer at the Norman Manley Law School on the University of the West Indies, Mona campus. The father of two hobbies includes reading, playing the violin, studying foreign languages, playing chess and writing chess analyses, football, cricket and travelling.

Ian Wilkins (Author)

The book contains 312 diagrams and 330 games, over 200 of which have been analysed using the latest and powerful chess programs. It also provides references to a further 239 games from past Olympiads and other famous tournaments. Valuable contributions to the analyses were made by several of the world’s top players including GM Michael Adams (United Kingdom), GM Etienne Bacrot (France), GM Judit Polgar (Hungary) GM Peter Svidler (Russia) and IM Amon Simutowe (Zambia).

Be sure to add this Jamaican edition to your libraries.