National Champion Wendell Meusa played undefeated and accumulated seven and a half points to capture the Keishar’s FIDE qualifiers when play concluded last weekend at Keishar’s Sports Club.
The six players who have qualified for the FIDE-rated tournament scheduled for later this year are Shiv Nandalall, Taffin Khan, Ronuel Greenidge, David Khan, Loris Nathoo and Ryan Singh.
When play resumed on Sunday, Meusa came up against Nathoo in round seven and in a tense battle, the national champion prevailed.
In other games from that round Nandalall defeated Taffin Khan; David Khan got past Frankie Farley; Ronuel Greenidge defeated Raan Motilall and Errol Tiwari got past Dennis Dillon
Other victors in round seven were Michael Pereira, Ryan Singh and Sham Khan.
When round eight began, Meusa had already secured the top podium position, one and a half points ahead of his nearest rival. He maintained that lead by defeating David Khan in the final round.
Nandall and Taffin Khan ended on six points each while Greenidge, David Khan, Nathoo and Singh were locked on five points each.
The other positions were occupied by Sham Khan with four and a half points, Errol Perreira, Tiwari, Farley, Saeed Ali, Dillon and Motilall on four points each and Ron Motilall and Learie Webster with three points each.
Alex Joseph ended with two points and Craig Sylvester and Haatram Parbat – one point each.
On Saturday, Meusa defeated Nandalall, Khan defeated Greenidge, Nathoo got past Webster and Farley got the better of Tiwari.
Also registering wins were David Khan, Dillon, Singh and Joseph. In the junior category, Rashad Hussain seized the opportunity to capture his first major win in the absence of four of the stronger juniors, Raan and Ron Motilall, Saeed Ali and Sham Khan who made a bold move to play in the senior category.
Hussain played undefeated to finish on eight points, Khalid Gajraj finshed on five and a half points, Mandy Ramnarine, Kana Khan, Suhai Feng and Stanley Ming Jr – five points each, Shane Yussuf – four points, Daniel DaSilva – three and a half points, Sheriffa Ali three, Miranda Ramnarine and Vashti Ramnarine on two points apiece and Lianna Parbat on one point.
Shane Yussuf was adjudged the best beginner and was rewarded with a trophy.
Rashad Hussain, Khalid Gajraj and Mandy Ramnarine also received trophies and gift vouchers while the top seven players in the seniors received trophies and the top three, gift vouchers.
