As they did at the conclusion of round three, defending champion Ryan Harper of Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados’s Orlando Husbands maintained the lead at the end of the fourth round of FIDE-World Chess Federation/ Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) Umada Cup, being held here at the Sleepin International Hotel.
Playing in the open category Harper and Husbands retained the lead with 3.5 points each. Following closely behind are Vishnu Singh of T&T, Dominica’s Christopher Guzman and Jamaica’s Malaku Lorne on 2.5 points apiece.
Harper outplayed Darvi Ferreras of Dominica to move to three wins and a draw from four games. Up to press time the champion was facing T&T’s chess champion Singh in a decisive fifth round encounter that can put Harper well ahead on points if he wins. If Singh wins he can move to 3.5 points to join Harper and Husbands in the lead.
Singh, Husbands and Guzman were the other players who recorded wins in the fourth round while Lorne and Roger Matoewi of Suriname played to a draw. The lone Guyanese in this category Taffin Khan suffered his third loss.
Meanwhile, in the challengers’ category, local player Maria Varona Thomas heads the table with four points, ahead of Jamaica’s Andrew Mellace who has 3.5 points. Tied for the third position are Krishal Persaud (Guyana), Deborah Richards (Jamaica) and T&T’s Esan Wiltshire who have three points each.
Up to press time the fifth round was still being contested in both categories.
Play is set to continue today from 10.30 am.
