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The final weekend of the Grand Prix 2 tournament saw Reigning National Chess Champion and Candidate Master Taffin Khan brush aside all opposition to win the Open Category with 7.5 points.
The tournament, sponsored by International Import and Supplies which ended on Sunday, last at the National Stadium, engaged several young and eager players testing their skill against more experienced opponents in their final four games.
Khan, who outmaneuvered almost every opponent over the eight-round tournament, missed the eighth point in his game against Loris Nathoo, which concluded in a draw. Khan received a cash prize winning of $20,000 for the top spot.
Both opponents had faced off late last year in a fast-paced playoff to determine the 2023 National Champion. However, similar to entering that match with equal scores, an equal effort was made by both players, but not enough for Khan to walk away with the full point.
Queen’s College student Kyle Couchman was awarded a much-deserved Second Place and a cash prize of $10,000 after he gained 6.5 points. He displayed remarkable skills over the chess board to achieve the second spot. A notable clash with 15-year-old Couchman and FM Anthony Drayton came in game six when Couchman’s white pieces invaded Drayton’s queenside, capturing material in an onslaught that continued onto the kingside. Now under pressure, Drayton struggled to repel Couchman’s continued invasion to win more material and target his King. The experienced Drayton, subsequently accepted defeat after 26 moves, giving Couchman a full point.
Anthony Drayton earned third place on 6 points in that category and a cash prize of $5,000.
In other notable game highlights, round 8 witnessed Challenger Loris Nathoo going down to a mating attack by young Jaden Taylor. The 21-year-old Taylor unleashed a campaign at the right moment using a pawn, Rook, Bishop, and Queen working in unison to strip Nathoo’s King of its defenses. The heavy bombardment deprived the vulnerable King of its haven, and Nathoo resigned to avoid checkmate.
The points standings at the end of Open Division eight rounds are: Taffin Khan 7.5, Kyle Couchman 6.5, Anthony Drayton 6 and Jaden Taylor 5. Bunched together on 4.5 points are Ronuel Greenidge, Gilbert Williams, Ethan Lee, Sachin Pitamber and Rashad Hussain. Six players tied on four points are Loris Nathoo, Justino Da Silva, Kishan Puran, Alexander and Nicholas Zhang and Omar Shariff Jr. Eight players scored 3.5 points or less in the tournament.
In the Women’s division, former National Women’s Champion Sasha Shariff overtook reigning National Women’s Champion Jessica Callender to dominate the first place with 7 points and was awarded a cash prize of $20,000. In the final two rounds of the tournament, Shariff defeated her last two female opponents, Nellisha Johnson and Treskole Archibald by winning material. She pressed her advantage in both matches, and her opponents resigned.
Callender secured Second Place with 6 points and a cash prize of $10,000, while Queen’s College Student Aditi Joshi came in third with 5.5 points, earning her a prize of $5,000.
Final score for the Women’s division are Sasha Shariff 7, Jessica Callender 6, Aditi Joshi and Ciel Clement 5.5 points apiece. Nellisha Johnson, Maliha Rajkumar and Shazeeda Rahim are tied on 4.5 points each. Another seven female players scored 3.5 points or less at the end of the competition.
In addition to winning prizes, players will have the opportunity to update their FIDE ratings to a higher number as they excel in these FIDE-rated games. The tournament was supervised by the FIDE Arbiter and Technical Manager of the GCF, Mr. John Lee. National Arbiter Odit Rodrigues and assistant arbiter Ricardo Narine also lent support during the four-day long tourney.
The eight-round tournament was sponsored by International Import and Supplies and attracted 14 female and 23 male chess players.
The Guyana Chess Federation would like to thank International Import and Supplies for its sponsorship and looks forward to a continued partnership in supporting chess in Guyana.
The GCF would especially like to thank the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Honorable Charles Ramson, for providing the use of the National Stadium, Providence for the tournament venue.
The federation continues with its packed schedule and will host the National Under 16 Tournament on Saturday, February 17th, 2024, at Marian Academy. The CARICOM Classic Chess Team Tournament is also on the cards from March 3rd to March 10th, 2024.
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