The T&T Cricket Board (TTCB) is currently in talks with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), as they look to speed up the process of getting scientific testing done on bowling actions of Sunil Narine and Kevon Cooper. During the Hampshire clash in the regional T20 series, Narine and Cooper were reported by the umpires who wanted to have their bowling actions tested to determine whether it was within the legal 15-degree bending of the elbow. Chairman of the national selection panel Dudnath Ramkessoon in explaining their exclusion from the T&T team released yesterday said :”We need to have their actions scientifically tested and we are currently in talks with the WICB to organise the testing as quickly as possible. “We are hopeful the tests can be done at the High Performance Centre in Barbados and if not we would have to send the players to London, England to have the tests done. “These two players are bright prospects and we need to have this situation sorted as quickly as possible. We are not for once saying that their actions are illegal but we need to have them tested just to ensure they are within the legal limit.”

An upset defeat by Wendell Meusa to Alexander Duncan paved the way for Loris Nathoo to win the Trophy Stall Chess Tournament which ended Sunday at the Keishar’s Sports Club, Camp & Hadfield Street.

Nathoo ended with five wins and two draws to finish on six points from seven games with only Meusa and Errol Tiwari managing to secure draws with the winner.  Meusa were tied with Nathoo up to round five but  suffered a devastating loss to Duncan in  their sixth round clash to finish on five and a half points.

Tiwari and Duncan finished third and fourth respectively. The final points standing reads; Nathoo six points, Meusa five and one half points, Errol Tiwari  four and one half points, Duncan, Shiv Nandalall and Chino Chung  four points, David Khan and Pierre Boucher  three and one half points, Glenford Corlette and Rodwell Poole three points and Haatram Parbat one  point.

Rashad Hussain won the junior category from Anthony Drayton and Saeed Ali. Hussain and Drayton finished with six and one half points each but Hussain won on the tiebreak, a release from the GCF stated.

The points standing reads; Hussain and Drayton six and one half points, Saeed Ali six points, Khalid Gajraj and Raan Motilall five and one half points, Suhai Feng and Joshua Pedro five points, Davion Mars and Shane Yussuf four and one half points, Vaughn Moses, Roberto Neto and Avinash Kishun four points and Shane Rampertab three and one half points.

Three other players were tied on three points apiece.

Meanwhile, Shane Yussuf was adjudged the most improved player based on performance from previous tournaments.

During the presentation, President of the Guyana Chess Federation Tiwari expressed gratitude to  Ramesh Sunich, owner of the Trophy Stall, who was the sole sponsor of the tournament.

Director of Sports, Neil Kumar, was on hand to present the prizes to the winners. He applauded the GCF and  Sunich for promoting chess and urged the GCF to continue the good work. He also urged the junior players to prepare for the Inter-Guiana Games which will be held in Suriname later this year.