Veteran player Michael Pereira has taken the lead in the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) Topco Juice Mash Chess Tournament as the tourney reached the half way stage.
Pereira created a stunning upset in round one by defeating National Champion Wendell Meusa.
He went on to dispatch Kenrick Brathwaite and David Khan in rounds two and three respectively while Taffin Khan, a favourite leading up to the tourney, found himself at the losing end in round one as he fell to Haatram Parbat.
Play resumed with round four in the senior category, and in a battle of the veterans, Pereira fought off a heavy attack from Errol Tiwari to gain an advantage in the end game, but was unable to convert a win and had to settle for a draw.
In the junior category, Saeed Ali has assumed the early lead with four points from his four allotted games. He is closely followed by Raan Motilall on three and a half points, Devendra Singh, Cecil Cox and Mandy Ramnarine all on three points apiece, Farad Baksh and Sheriffa Ali on two and a half points, while eight players are tied on two points each.
In other results, Wendell Meusa got past David Khan, Kenrick Brathwaite got the better of Ronald Roberts and Haatram Parbat got past Nowrattan Persaud.
In another thrilling game Shiv Nandalall defeated Taffin Khan after the lad found himself fighting off two rooks against his bishop and knight.
Pereira leads on the tie breakers system on three and a half points with Tiwari on his tail with the same score, Wendell Meusa and Shiv Nandalall are on three points a piece, David Khan, Kenrick Brathwaite, Haatram Parbat, Carlos Allicock and Taffin Khan are tied on two points, Frankie Farley and Ronald Roberts accumulated one and a half points and Ryan Singh and Nowrattan Persaud are on one point each.
The tournament continues today from 10:00hrs for the seniors, while the juniors will play one round from 14:30hrs and the final sets of rounds will conclude on Sunday starting at 10:00hrs for both categories.