The qualifier for the National Junior Chess Championship begins next Sunday, February 24, at the National Resource Centre, Woolford Avenue (opposite the Government Technical Institute). All school-aged youths are invited to participate in the championship which is a seven-round Swiss.
It continues on Saturday, March 2 and ends on Sunday, March 3. Players have one hour to contemplate their moves plus a five-second increment to boost their timings. Games begin at 10 am each playing day.
The Berbice region has traditionally boasted some capable chess players. Kriskal Persaud of Rose Hall Town, for example, won the National Junior Championship and went on to win the National Senior Championship. This was over 25 years ago, but Persaud is still active and we expect him to play in the Senior Championship which is approaching.
When referring to chess players from Berbice, mention must be made of the London brothers. One of the brothers has been continuously winning the Berbice Schools Chess Championship. I played against him, and, assuredly, he’s a tough customer. This is the Londons’ huge opportunity to demonstrate what they are worth.
Newcomer Andre Jagnandan seems to be a new kid on the block for chess. He performed excellently at the James Bond Birthday Bash Tournament recently and won the first prize. The participants of that tournament included the national junior champ Joshua Gopaul.
