By Tiadi Blair
Wendell Meusa took an early lead in the Sasha Cells Chess tournament which started last Sunday at the Kei-Shars Sports Club.
After three completed rounds of the Open division Meusa has the maximum three points.
He is followed by Shiv Nandalall on two and one half points and David and Taffin Khan on two points each. Irshad Mohammed, Brian Thompson and Errol Tiwari are on one and a half points while Learie Webster, Omar Shariff, Ryan Singh and Haatram Parbatt each has a point.
In the first round Meusa was paired against veteran player Learie Webster and prevailed in what turned out to be a rigorous battle between the two.
Little known Brian Thompson recorded a minor upset when he defeated national junior champion Taffin Khan.
However, Khan rebound to defeat Webster in a second round clash and then got the better of Tiwari in round three.
In the junior category, Rashad Hussain is in the lead by half of a point, over his brother Aslam Hussain.
The points standing after four rounds: Rashad Hussain three and a half points, Aslam Hussain, Sham Khan and Saeed Ali, three points, Sheriffa Ali and Devendra Singh two and a half points, Khalid Gajraj, Carlos Griffith and Alexander Brassington, two points, Irshad Ishmael on one and a half points and Clive Bender on one point.
In the beginners’ category Mandy Ramnarine is in the lead followed by her sister Miranda Ramnarine.
The tournament continues today for the seniors at Kei-Shars Sports Club from 5:30 pm while the juniors will play their remaining four rounds on Monday.
Sasha Cells is the exclusive sponsor of the tournament.
