Chess with Errol

Chess

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It is said that a chess tournament is not for the fainthearted. Like any other sporting conflict, its importance applies the kind of pressures, which only the strong and the toughest can survive. A serious championship contender can no more turn up unprepared to a match than a boxer or a footballer can.
In chess, exhaustive preparation is an integral part of modern tournament play. With regular competitions being held at the national level, the standard of knowledge and the rate at which that knowledge is being acquired, is increasing continuously.

Garry Kasparov might be retired but he is still active in chess with the Kasparov Chess Foundation, a non-profit educational organization that works with schools and communities across the United States to promote chess as a cognitive learning tool. Recently he visited the Harlem Children’s Zone, an anti-poverty and education initiative. Presidential candidate Barack Obama visited the Zone and praised the programme in a speech last year. In picture, Kasparov gives Rochelle Ballantyne one-on-one attention as Rochelle’s colleagues had all resigned. Naturally Rochelle would have preferred not to have this kind of attention during the simultaneous exhibition.
Garry Kasparov might be retired but he is still active in chess with the Kasparov Chess Foundation, a non-profit educational organization that works with schools and communities across the United States to promote chess as a cognitive learning tool. Recently he visited the Harlem Children’s Zone, an anti-poverty and education initiative. Presidential candidate Barack Obama visited the Zone and praised the programme in a speech last year. In picture, Kasparov gives Rochelle Ballantyne one-on-one attention as Rochelle’s colleagues had all resigned. Naturally Rochelle would have preferred not to have this kind of attention during the simultaneous exhibition.

The Guyana Chess Federation begins its qualifying tournament for the National Championships today from 10 am at the Hotel Tower. Three rounds of an eight-round tournament will be played today at two hours per game for both the junior and senior players.

The participants whom I have either spoken with, or met, during the past week are enormously excited about the tournament. Among serious players, there is a kind of chess fever in the air. It seems as if the whole philosophy of the game is changing in Guyana. Players have become more competitive, and everybody wants to win.

The computer has become a weapon of choice for those who have been taking the game seriously.

Analytical investigations of key lines in modern openings are now done almost solely by computer. Players are now sharper than before and one slip in the opening can cost you the game.

Taffin Khan would be almost impossible to beat among the juniors. He is way ahead of his competition at 16 years. In the last tournament hosted by the Federation, he played among the seniors and did very well. He drew with national champion Kriskal Persaud and defeated the highly-rated Shiv Nandalall.

In the senior category it is difficult to pick a winner. The seven top finishers would advance to the prestigious National Championships. About a dozen players have a very good chance of going forward. It depends on a number of factors; who is better prepared, both theoretically and physically for the games.

Sleeping well on the night before the following day’s play is very crucial to winning. If a player is tired, it affects his play as the game goes deeper and deeper. Inevitably he blunders and loses in an instant.
Serious chess would be contested at the Hotel Tower today. Before the start of the tournament, the Tournament Director would explain to participants the type of tie-break system that would be used in the event of ties. The computer would determine the pairings of players for the games in a similar fashion to how it is done at international tournaments.

Good luck to all the participants. Play begins at 10 am.

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