President Ali meets with national Chess team ahead of Olympiad in Chennai

The Guyana Chess Federation recently made a courtesy call on President Dr. Irfaan Ali and Minister of Culture Youth and Sport Charles Ramson Jr. at State House.

The delegation was led by Guyana Chess Federation President Frankie Farley and members of the Olympiad team scheduled to represent Guyana at the 44^th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India, later this month.

The team comprises five males and five females.

Taffin Khan, Loris Nathoo, Anthony Drayton, Roberto Neto and Ethan Lee will participate in the Open Tournament, while Sasha Shariff, Pooja Lam, Jessica Callender, Anaya Lall and Nellisha Johnson will participate in the Women’s category.

Also in attendance were Company Secretary Marcia Lee, Executive Director Irshad Mohamed, Team Captain and Executive Director Davion Mars, Executive Director and FIDE Ethics and Disciplinary Commission Councilor Yolander Sammy and President of the Deaf Association of Guyana, Sabine Macintosh.

The Head of State was pleased to see the young men and women in attendance and it was noted that this will be the youngest team to ever represent Guyana at the Olympiad and the only Guyanese team to ever include a deaf player, 12-year-old Anaya Lall.

Anaya will now be representing Guyana for the second time, having competed last year in the online World Chess Championship for Persons with Disabilities.

President Ali has pledged government’s assistance and support for the team to compete in India and promised continued support in further advancing the sport for persons with special needs across Guyana as well as equipment to further expand the Federation’s reach across the country.

The President added that he was happy with the work the Federation has done in making the sport inclusive, but charged the Federation to have chess become a sought-after pastime, accessible in every region across Guyana.

The 44^th edition of the FIDE Olympiad will begin on July 28 and end on August 10, 2022.