The NEW GPC INC. sponsored National Open Chess Championship commenced last Saturday at the National Racquet Centre with a thrilling four rounds of play. The ten top contenders will meet each other in a round-robin format with a time control of 90 minutes plus 30-second increments after the first move.
After four of nine rounds, defending National Chess Champion Candidate Master (CM) Taffin Khan chalked up three wins and a draw over the weekend. In an eventful tournament to secure the highest local chess accolade, Khan demonstrated his dominance on the chessboard from the very start.
He defeated formidable junior players, Kyle Couchman and Sachin Pitamber, while 2023’s main challenger, Loris Nathoo, also went down in a Round Three clash. His half-point came from a draw with Ethan Lee in Round One.
After the customary handshakes at the start of every tournament match, all ten candidates went into battle mode and hostilities on the chessboard. An upset victory by 14-year-old Kyle Couchman over FM Anthony Drayton was the main event of Round One. The teen defeated his opponent in less than 40 moves. With the white pieces, Couchman opened with the Queen’s Gambit, while Drayton responded with the Slav Defence.
An intense struggle soon erupted as Drayton launched a combination attack with his Knight, Queen, and Rook that led to a stronger position, leaving Couchman’s King exposed to checkmate. But the junior saved his monarch by retaliating with an attack involving his Queen and his minor pieces and a mating net that led to Drayton’s resignation on move 37.
New senior player Ethan Lee drew his match with defending champion Taffin Khan in Round One in an endgame battle that lasted almost 70 moves. Both players were down on time and were deadlocked with opposite-coloured Bishops, pawns, and both Kings poised for action. But neither side was prepared to take further risks with an even position, and a truce was agreed.
CM Ronuel Greenidge and reigning Junior Champion Keron Sandiford also drew their Round One encounter, while Loris Nathoo suffered his first loss in the championship to Justino Da Silva. Nathoo recovered in Round Two with a win over Ethan Lee in a thrilling endgame.
The veteran player marched a passed pawn to promotion, forcing his much younger opponent’s capitulation. The defending champion’s Round Three duel began with young Couchman pushing his Queen pawn on move one. Khan created complications for his opponent with the Benko Gambit, sacrificing a pawn to accelerate his forces for battle.
The match ended after a marathon 60 moves with Couchman’s cornered monarch unable to stop Khan’s advanced pawn heading for promotion and checkmate.
Young Pitamber suffered the same fate as Couchman in Round Four in an endgame battle. Khan’s far advanced pawns with his king and Rook in the fight created a losing position for Pitamber who resigned his king after 41 moves. Most of the matches were decided in the final endgame phase. The kings also emerged with assistance from other fighting units to secure victory.
Sandiford, Drayton, and Greenidge are all on 2.5 points after the four rounds, while Nathoo and Couchman are on 2 points. Justino DaSilva and Ethan Lee are on one point each.
The remaining rounds will continue on June 7th, 8thand 9th, after which a champion will emerge. Whether the title remains with Khan or someone else is crowned National Champion is yet to be determined. The Guyana Chess Federation wishes to thank NEW GPC INC. for sponsoring the event.
The GCF would also like to thank the National Sports Commission for facilitating the tournament at the National Racquet Centre. Games are being live-streamed on lichess.org and view.livechesscloud.com under the guidance of Technical Manager and Chief Arbiter John Lee.
