Joshua Grant and Sherlyta Campayne both got the upper hand over their predecessors to claim the title of University of Guyana (UG) Chess King and Queen for 2024.
Both tournaments were played with a time control of 30 minutes per player.
On the Kingside of the tournament, Joshua Grant’s continued brilliance in every event he has participated in, despite being self-taught, was on full display.
The second-year medical school student earned the title of chess king with a dominant performance of 6 points after six rounds of play. His undefeated run featured victories over Favor Rege, Jolanie Tappin, Dinar Mohabir, Oluwadare Oyeyipo, Murphy Bagot and defending champion Keron Sandiford.
His match up against the former UG Chess King, notably a former National Junior Chess Champion and Chess Olympian, was a remarkable display of skill and determination. His strategic mastery and tenacity secured him a crucial victory, further solidifying his position in the competition.
Sandiford finished in second place with 5 points, his only loss resulting from his third-round clash with the champion.
Jolanie Tappin (4 points), Dinar Mohabir (3 points) and Oluwadare Oyeyipo (2 point) finished third, fourth and fifth place respectively.
Throughout the tournament, players continued to push their limits, with each game adding to the suspense and excitement. The championship event was closely contested with none of the nine competitors finishing without at least one point, which shows that most players are almost evenly matched with a high skill level.
On the Queenside, Sherlyta Campayne displayed much strategic prowess to clinch the title of UG Chess Queen, finishing the tournament on 3.5 points. Campayne is a second-year student pursuing a degree in Industrial Engineering, having already completed her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 2020.
The Women’s championship was played as a double round robin, which means each player played all other competitors twice. Since the event featured only three women, this meant each player played six rounds.
Campayne has shown steady improvement over the years, having competed at multiple UG Chess Queen Championships before earning this esteemed title.
The tournament began with electrifying matches, setting the stage for an intense competition. In round one, Campayne battled to a thrilling draw against defending champion WCM Sasha Shariff. Campayne’s time management skills saved her from a dominant performance by Shariff.
Shariff has an extensive history of impressive accolades, both nationally and internationally, in classical chess which features much longer games. Campayne displayed much excellence in being able to clinch a draw in the reduced time format.
In their second encounter, Campayne was able to build on momentum from the first round, and claimed a full point with a dazzling attacking display.
In a spectacular third round showdown, Campayne emerged victorious against Melissa Kellman. However, Kellman, a surprise talent in the competition, showcased incredible awareness and gave the top contenders a formidable fight. Despite the loss, Kellman’s impressive fight against seasoned players captivated the audience.
Shariff finished second on 1.5 points while Kellman finished on 1 point.
This competition highlights the importance of fostering womens’ participation in chess, especially on campus, encouraging both seasoned players and newcomers to engage with the game.
