Khan and Ali top President’s 50th Anniversary Shield Rapid Chess

Earmarked as an activity to celebrate Guyana’s 50^th Republic Anniversary, the President’s 50^th Anniversary Shield Rapid Open Chess tournament concluded at the weekend with former national senior champion and Candidate Master Taffin Khan and Women’s Candidate Master Sheriffa Ali emerging champions of the respective category.

The FIDE-rated tournament, which attracted about 70 players, was held at State House, Main Street, Georgetown, with Khan winning the Open category and Ali taking the Senior Female division.

The tournament was the brainchild of His Excellency President David Granger, a former president of the Guyana Chess Federation, and was the first to be held at State House.

Khan won the tie-breaker with Suriname’s Imaan Kalidjo after both players ended on 5½ points. Virgil Kartodikromo and Romario Sanches Casanova of Suriname and Glenford Corlette of Guyana took the next three positions in that order after finishing on five points each.

Rounding off the top 10 were senior national champion Anthony Drayton of Guyana (4½), Shatish Lautan of Suriname (4½), Shiv Nandalall of Guyana (4), John Ramdat Tewarie of Suriname (4) and John De Silva Justino Manuelo of Guyana (4).

On the distaff side, Ali chalked up five points to beat off the challenge of compatriot Sherlyta Campayne, who managed four points. Only two players participated in the Senior Female category.

Ethan Lee of Marian Academy won the Junior Open, while the Junior Female category was claimed by Victoria Kaslan of Suriname.

In the Junior Open, which was an all Guyana affair, Lee tallied 6½ points to finish ahead of Ricardo Narine (6), Jaden Taylor (5½), Akili Theophil (5), Joshua Gopaul (4½), Kishan Puran (4½), Mayas Khan (4½), Omar Shariff (4½), Demetrius Druper (4½) and Oluwadare Oyeyipo (4) in the top 10.

In the Junior Female division, Kalsan had seven points, one clear of compatriot and second place finisher Saday Elliot. Christina Sasha Shariff and Anasie Fredericks were leading Guyanese players in this category with 4½ points each.

Mayas Khan was rewarded with a special prize for being the best Under-12 player at the event.

The presentation of prizes was done by His Excellency President David Granger, the sponsor of the tournament, which was organised by the newly-formed Guyana Chess Academy.

The Guyana Chess Academy would like to express appreciation to His Excellency President David Granger, Minister Raphael Trotman, the executives of the Guyana Chess Federation and the Suriname Chess Federation, The Red Cherry, parents of the participants, Chief Arbiter John Lee and Assistant Arbiter Marcia Lee for making the one-day event a success.