It proved to be a tumultuous year for the game of chess. People who never knew the difference between a pawn and a king suddenly became curious about the ancient game. For some, it was an awakening from a Rip-Van-Winkle sleep, and an opportunity to re-connect with the spirits of chess.
Chess had come full circle; for too long, we had stood on the periphery of that circle, hoping that one day we would emerge from obscurity – and then suddenly, we were back. The awareness of the game was so intense that the incorrect placement of the black and white pieces during a tournament game made national headlines.
The federation held a training workshop with the Art of Living Foundation during the year, and another with the Malteenoes Sports Club, exposing some kids to the rudiments of the game. In time, these young hopefuls may make their country proud. We organized the Mashramani Tournament, the DDL Tournaments (two), the Kei-Shar Tournament, the Winner Takes All Oasis Cafe Tournament and the landmark Carifesta Tournament. We had the National Qualification Tournament which determined the participants for the nationals. And as in 2007, we held the National Chess Championships in November, a gruelling 14- round, round-robin tournament that was won by Berbician Kriskal Persaud.
Finally, we brought 13 schools and 47 students together in one competition to play the National Schools Championship. It was a fair effort when one considers that the first National Schools Championship of the USA was held in 1969 and a sprinkling of 302 schools participated. During the 1970s, the federation held the first schools championship, but things became dormant for a while following the expiration of the federation’s president, Forbes Burnham. Until this year when we recaptured the spirit of the great game and generated curiosity and interest.
It is our intention to complete activities for the year with a large simultaneous street exhibition to be conducted by the current national champion Kriskal Persaud. This event, however, would only be made possible if there is a half-day of brilliant sunshine since the games will be conducted in the open. The federation has therefore played a zwischenzug (German for ‘a waiting move’), waiting for a day of bright sunshine.
For 2009, we hope to create a new legion of chess hopefuls, preferably fired by a chess fervour heretofore unknown in Guyana.
A happy New Year to all!
Cheparinov v Alekseev
The third FIDE Grand Prix tournament is currently being played in Elista, Kalmykia. Despite some super-grandmaster withdrawals (Carlsen, Adams), and the absence of Anand, Kramnik and Topalov, the tournament is strong, a Category 19.
Cheparinov, I (2696) – Alekseev, Evgeny (2715)
FIDE Grand Prix Elista RUS (8), 22.12.2008
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Nb8 10.d4 Nbd7 11.Nbd2 Bb7 12.Bc2 Re8 13.a4 Bf8 14.Bd3 c6 15.b3 Qc7 16.Bb2 g6 17.Qc2 Rac8 18.Bf1 Qb8 19.Rad1 Bg7 20.g3 Ba8 21.axb5 axb5 22.b4 Bf8 23.Qb3 h6 Now Cheparinov launches a devastating attack. 24.dxe5 Nxe5 25.c4 bxc4 26.Nxc4 Nfd7 27.Nfxe5 Nxe5 28.Nxe5 dxe5 29.Rd7 Re7 30.Red1 Rce8 31.Bc4 Kg7 32.Qf3 c5 ( DIAGRAM )
33.Qxf7+! Rxf7 34.Rxf7+! Note that the careless 34.Bxf7 actually loses – to 34…Re7! 34…Kh8 35.Rdd7 Black Resigns. 1-0
