-Ron Motilall yesterday recorded the fastest win of the inaugural Challenges of Youth Empowerment Chess Tournament currently underway at the American University of Peace Studies

By Tamica Garnett
Ron Motilall checkmated Farad Baksh in nine moves yesterday in the first round of the “Challenges of Youth Empowerment” chess tournament held by the Royal Chess Academy (RCA) at the American University of Peace Studies, Sheriff Street.

In a game that employed the Two Knight’s Defence, Motilall prevailed over Baksh in a matter of minutes.

Also securing wins were Shane Yusuf, who triumphed over Anthony Drayton and Ryan Mc Kay whose opponent Cecil Cox forfeited the game.

The Yusuf/ Drayton en-counter featured the Scandinavian Defence and both players castled on opposite sides which led to speedy attacks on each other’s kings.

Yusuf eventually prevailed after cunningly sacrificing his knight which left Drayton’s king exposed.

McKay received one point after his opponent, national junior champion, Cox forfeited due to illness.

The remaining matches between Rashad Hussein and Naitanand Singh and Su–Hai Feng and Raan Motilall ended in draws.

Singh, playing the black pieces, chose the King’s Indian Defense in an effort to gain the early advantage.

He must have felt justified in his choice of his opening repertoire when Hussein blundered away a rook.

Unfortunately, Singh was unable to convert the material advantage into a win and settled for a draw.

The game between Feng and Raan Motilall saw the Four Knight’s Defense played out as Feng and Motilall both gained levelled positions at the middle game.

Both players played solidly and accurately before Motilall played for repetition of move to produce a draw after 40 moves each.

The tournament features some of Guyana’s top junior players vying in a nine person round robin tournament, played under FIDE rules.

At the end of the tournament prizes will be awarded to the top three players who accumulated the highest number of points. Prizes will also be awarded for the best game of each round.

The winner of the tournament will be titled the “Junior Chess King” and will receive 50% sponsorship of all expenses to attend the annual Sagicor Junior Championship to be held in Barbados from August 10-13, as well as full accommodation expenses to attend the FIDE Umana Cup Chess Tournament in Trinidad and Tobago from August 14-16.

The tournament is being played to mark the first anniversary of the RCA, which was formulated exactly one year ago by national chess champion, Wendell Muesa.

Meusa told  Stabroek Sport that last year after returning from studying abroad it came to his notice that while chess tournaments were being continually held, nothing much was being done in the area of training.

As such, Meusa said, he launched the academy in the hopes of training the players.

“On my return from college, when I came back I saw that Guyana had the chess federation but there was no training institute.

So at the Royal Chess academy it’s more than just tournaments, training is done.

“We train players weekly on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. And we have been doing that for the past year at the American University of Peace Studies,” Meusa said.

He said that the academy was focused on developing minds and was aimed at young individuals.

The RCA Meusa said, also incorporates the teaching of other skills that assist to develop the minds of young people.

“But we not only train children on chess but we also focus on personal development.

“Psychology, mind development, conflict resolution and other things, and we aim towards young people, it’s not really about adults.”

Muesa added that the academy was also involved in promoting the game in schools such as Queen’s College, Mae’s and Dolphin Secondary.

And, according to Meusa, the academy has been progressing very well over the past year.

The academy boasts the production of several of Guyana’s top junior players including the national junior champion.

The tournament will continue today with round two beginning at 11am.