The Persaud brothers Shiv and Kriskal took the top two places in the senior category of the Guyana Chess Federation-sponsored blitz tournament held recently in Berbice.
Shiv Persaud, defeated his older brother and current National Champion Kriskal in round four of the seven-round tournament, the first staged by the newly formed Guyana Chess Federation.
Shiv Persaud had announced himself as early as the second round when he defeated top player Shiv Nandalall.
His only defeat came in his final round clash with Learie Webster who ended up tying with Kriskal Persaud on five points but lost on the tiebreak and ended third.
Apart from the Persauds, two other Berbicians, magistrate Chandra Sohan and Farouk Bahman, participated in the senior category.
The final points standing were: Shiv Persaud, six points; Kriskal Persaud and Webster five points; Irshad Mohamed and David Khan four-and-a-half points; Nandalall, Errol Tiwari and Farouk Bahman, four points each and Magistrate Sohan, two points.
A prize of $20,000.00 was presented to Shiv Persaud by Mr Rana Persaud of New Building Society while the second place prize of $15,000.00 was awarded to Kriskal Persaud and was sponsored by Jai Jairam of Crown Spot Lemonade Rose Hall Town, Balram Shane General Store in Rose Hall Town, Belvedere Inn 2 Restaurant & Bar in Rose Hall Town and Lomenzo Johnny.
Webster received $10,000.00 sponsored by Chris Jagdeo – General Contractor.
Geddes Grant Guyana Limited, Berbice Branch, provided a trophy for the second place winner and two hampers for the Persaud brothers.
The junior category was won by Taffin Khan who played unbeaten to finish with five points.
Cecil Cox was second with four points while Irshad Ishmael finished third with three points. Cash prizes for the juniors were contributed exclusively by Sukhram General Store.
Three junior players from Berbice, Jermaine Glasgow, Harrinarine Deonauth and Travis McKenzie took the fourth, fifth and sixth places respectively.
The three Berbice juniors won novice prizes provided by the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club.
National cricketer and committee member of the club Assad Fudadin made those presentations.
