– Ali sweeps junior category
Taffin Khan was Sunday crowned champion of the Topco Juice Mashramani Chess Tournament organized by the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF).
Going into the last round the top five players in the tournament were all separated by half of a point.
Michael Pereira, who led going into the final day, needed only half of a point in the final round to secure his first major title but suffered his second defeat in the tournament to Frankie Farley.
His first loss was against the eventual winner, Khan, in round six.
Khan had a successful weekend as he defeated Kenrick Braithwaite in round five, Pereira in round six, national champion Wendell Meusa in round seven and veteran player Errol Tiwari in the final round.
In other highlights, Shiv Nandalall held Meusa to a draw while Tiwari got past David Khan.
Khan ended on six points while Shiv Nandalall, Wendell Meusa and Michael Pereira were bracketed on five and one half points.
Nandalall secured the second position on the tiebreaker system with Meusa third and Pereira fourth.
David Khan, five points, Tiwari and Ronald Roberts four-and-a-half points, Braithwaite and Parbat Haatram on four points apiece, Farley three-and-a-half, Carlos Allicock and Ryan Singh, three points and Nowrattan Persaud on two points were the other finishers.
The junior category saw Saeed Ali giving up the lead briefly after he lost to Raan Motilall in round five. However, Motilall suffered back-to-back losses to Devendra Singh and Rashad Hussain respectively which allowed Ali regained the lead.
Ali held on to a one-point lead to secure his first title of the year with six-and-a-half points. Rashad Hussain was second with five-and-a-half points while Sham Khan, Motilall, Devendra Singh, Ron Motilall, Kana Khan and Sheriffa Ali were all tied on five points each.
Mandy Ramnarine and Cecil Cox accumulated four and half points; Ganesh Persaud, Miranda Ramnarine and Carlos Patterson were on four points and Faraad Baksh on three points. The beginners category saw little Vashti Ramnarine taking the podium position followed by Viddesh Shameer, Daryl Calistro, Monesh Gopie and Sandip Gonsalves. Ron Motilall was adjudged the most improved player in the junior category. Top junior Ali will receive one year’s free supply of Topco Juice, courtesy of the sponsor DDL.
