Dear Editor,
In response to the Kaieteur News article of March 16th Re: `National Chess Champion at odds with executives of local federation’.
The main purpose of the article was to highlight my concerns about the violation of rules by the Guyana Chess Federation, such as smoking and drinking during tournament games, discussions of games while games are in progress, crowding of persons around games while games are being played, dramatic physical confrontation, misuse or over use of power and authority by executive members and also unfair selections of draws (allotment of players) by the world recognized computer chess programme Swiss (how hard to understand!).
All these are violations of the rules of chess internationally and to the World Chess Federation (FIDE), because of the mental distraction it creates for chess players. Chess should be played fair and with equal rights.
It is almost one year since I have been partaking in competitive chess in Guyana and these violations are continually occurring. Excuses for these violations occurring out of ignorance cannot and should not be accepted. Chess like any other sport has rules and regulations and all players should be knowledgeable of these and should execute same to the best of their ability in the best way possible.
In conclusion I would like to state that at no time did I rant as stated in the article. Thank you!
Yours faithfully,
Wendell Meusa
Guyana National
Chess Champion
