Guyana’s chess team at the 41st World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway ended the tournament on a winning note by defeating Palau 3-1 in the 11th and final round of the Open division.
Anthony Drayton, FIDE ranking 1828, defeated Roberto Hernandez FIDE ranking 1845 of Board One the game ending in 31 moves with Drayton a possible two moves away from checkmate. Drayton played with the white pieces.
Ronuel Greenidge, FIDE ranking 1630 played with black and defeated Cyril Thomas Montel Jr., ranked 1848 after 48 moves.
Haifeng Su FIDE ranking 1724, defeated Dennis Gonzales FIDE ranking 1720 in only 21 moves while Maria Varona-Thomas FIDE ranking 1777 lost to
Jeffrey Balvalosa FIDE ranking 1723 after a marathon 88 move match. Varona Thomas was playing with the black pieces.
It means that the Guyana team finished with six points from their 11 matches which earned them 160th place out of 183 competing nations.
The Guyana team also enjoyed some more success with top player Anthony Drayton and Ronuel Greenidge earning the FIDE candidate Master status.
Drayton ended with five and one half points from 11 games and Greenidge, six points from 11 games.
The two are among 92 players to achieve Candidate Master status. The other two players Su finished with four and one half points and Varona-Thomas three points
Additionally, Wendel Meusa qualified as a FIDE National Instructor and Yolande Persaud as a FIDE Development instructor.
President of the Guyana Chess Federation Irshad Mohamed yesterday said that he was pleased with the Guyana team’s showing overall.
“I’m quite satisfied with the performance of the entire team throughout the tournament” he told Stabroek Sports in an invited comment.
“The fact is that we were absent for so many years from the World Championships scene which resulted in our players not having much international exposure must be considered.
“As such I think it was a credible performance for Guyana and I am very proud of them. Two of our players achieved Candidate Masters norms,” Mohamed added.
Mohamed said Drayton narrowly missed out on becoming a FIDE Master.
“If Drayton had gotten two more points he would have achieved the FIDE Masters title. In my opinion I think he dropped two games he should have won,” Mohamed added.
Asked about the new rating for the Guyanese players Mohamed said the new ratings will be out later.
“The new rating will be out at the end of this month.”
Mohammed rued that fact that the team was unable to field two of its stronger players in Taffin Khan and Meusa, the current national chess champion.
Khan was unable to procure a European visa after his name and date of birth surfaced on a terrorist watch list.
Mohamed said the embassy granted Khan a review but they were unable to complete the necessary checks in time for Khan to be given the visa.
National chess champion Meusa is apparently still registered under the Barbados Chess Federation and they were unable to transfer his nationality in time for him to play for Guyana.
Meanwhile Mohamed said he was grateful to all the sponsors who made the trip to Norway possible including Office of the President, Guyana Telephone & Telegraph, National Sports Commission, Caribbean Container Inc., Toolsie Persaud Limited, Oasis Café and Café Bean.
