Berbician Kriskal Persaud is the early leader as the Red Cherry Ladder chess tournament got underway Sunday at the Kei-Shar’s Sports Club, Hadfield Street.
The former national champion played unbeaten scoring five wins and a draw in the six rounds contested yesterday.
Persaud drew with reigning national champion Taffin Khan but won his other five matches. Khan suffered an upset defeat to rising star Saeed Ali and faded to fourth
place, one place behind Ali while top junior player Anthony Drayton is in the runner-up position after scoring five wins. Play resumes on Thursday with another six rounds. The finals are scheduled for August 11.
The top four players at the end of the preliminary competition will compete in a playoff for $50,000 cash and other prizes. The tournament is still open to new participants wishing to join the action. The tournament is the brainchild of former chess player and CEO of Red Cherry Café Loris Nathoo and is being run under the auspices of the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF).
