CICF Absolute Classical National Championship 2026
10 players participated in this 9-round tournament, held from 24 Jan 2026 to 01 Feb 2026 in George Town, Cayman Islands. 4 titled players. Top 10 Elo average was 1761, and top seed was Ryan Blackwood (🇰🇾 CAY, 1945).
Mike McDonald (🇰🇾 CAY, 1848) won with 7.5/9, ahead of Ryan Blackwood (7.0) and Kudakwashe Chinake (6.0). McDonald won solo starting round 3.
The biggest upset came in round 8: Shaun M Tracey (CM, 1700) beat Clifford Shaw (CM, 1858), a +158-point gap.
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How it unfolded
Top 10 · 9 roundsMike McDonald led from R3 onwards, the runner-up race stayed tight.
Mike McDonald held the sole lead from R3 through R9 without losing it.
Mike McDonald beat Ryan Blackwood (White).
Mike McDonald 3+3 wins (R1–R3, R5–R7)Ryan Blackwood 3 wins (R5–R7)CM Kudakwashe Chinake 4 wins (R6–R9)
Cross-table
| # | Player | Elo | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Pts | SB | Bh | Δ Elo | Perf |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇰🇾McDonald, Mike | 1848 | * | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 7.5 | 30.25 | 37.5 | +38.4 | 2024 |
| 2 | 🇰🇾Blackwood, Ryan | 1945 | 0 | * | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7.0 | 27.00 | 38.0 | +6.8 | 1961 |
| 3 | 🇰🇾CMKudakwashe Chinake | 1940 | 1 | 0 | * | 1 | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 6.0 | 24.50 | 39.0 | -11.8 | 1866 |
| 4 | 🇰🇾CMTracey, Shaun M | 1700 | 0 | 0 | 0 | * | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5.5 | 16.75 | 39.5 | +35.4 | 1848 |
| 5 | 🇰🇾CMShaw, Clifford | 1858 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | * | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 5.0 | 17.75 | 40.0 | -13.6 | 1793 |
| 6 | 🇰🇾CMYoung, Christopher | 1814 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | * | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 4.5 | 14.75 | 40.5 | -12.8 | 1755 |
| 9 | 🇰🇾Macatuggal, Edilberto | 1598 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | * | ½ | ½ | 0 | 2.5 | 11.50 | 42.5 | -2.4 | 1613 |
| 8 | 🇰🇾Franklin, Owen | 1541 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | * | 0 | 1 | 2.5 | 10.00 | 42.5 | +22.0 | 1619 |
| 7 | 🇰🇾Abalos, Gilbert | 1787 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1 | * | 1 | 2.5 | 5.75 | 42.5 | -46.0 | 1592 |
| 10 | 🇰🇾Rasch, Julian | 1581 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 0 | 0 | * | 2.0 | 7.25 | 43.0 | -12.4 | 1561 |
Key insights
Biggest movers and upsets — the story behind the numbers.
- 1McDonald, MikeCAY+38.47.5 pts · #1
- 2Tracey, Shaun MCMCAY+35.45.5 pts · #4
- 3Franklin, OwenCAY+22.02.5 pts · #8
- 1Abalos, GilbertCAY-46.02.5 pts · #7
- 2Shaw, CliffordCMCAY-13.65.0 pts · #5
- 3Young, ChristopherCMCAY-12.84.5 pts · #6
- R8+158 Elo gap