National champ gets scare from Taffim Khan

A bold move by young Taffim Khan to play in the senior category of the Carifesta/Topco Juice-sponsored chess tournament nearly paid the ultimate dividend as the youngster came within a whisker of defeating national champion Kriskal Persaud.

After getting past the experienced Shiv Nandlall in the first round of the tournament played at Kei-Shars Sports Club on Hadfield Street, Khan took on the veteran Persaud and went into the end game with the advantage of a pawn and a knight.

However, Persaud was able to draw upon his experience and, in an endgame which featured his rook against Khan’s rook, knight and pawn; he was able to hold on for a draw.

At the end of the fourth and final round of play on Sunday, Persaud was in the lead with three and-one-half points out of a possible four points after the draw with Khan.

Khan, who also held former president of the Guyana Chess federation Ewan Devonish who is visiting from the USA to a draw, is bracketed with four other players on three points.

Those players are Nandlall, Michael Perreira, Haatram Persaud and Learie Webster. Devonish follows next on two and one half points with Loris Nathoo, Kenrick Brathwaite, Alexander Duncan, Errol Tiwari and David Khan on two points each.

The remaining positions are held by Irshad Mohamed and Jason Allicock on one and one half points each and Roul Bhudu, Alex Joseph and Hemraj Sanichara with one point each.

In the junior category, Ryan Singh leads with four points followed by Saeed Ali on three, Khalid Gajraj and Irshad Ishmael on two and Sheriffa Ali on one point.

The tournament continues this Sunday with the final four rounds at the same venue from 10 am.

The tournament is sponsored exclusively by DDL under the Topco Juice Brand.