The inaugural Gaico seven-round chess tournament is gradually becoming more competitive as the rounds are being completed. The competition is popular because it represents the transparent Grand Prix formula. The more points one obtains during the Grand Prix series, the more chances one has of representing Guyana at the international level, including the rigorous 2020 Chess Olympiad in Russia.
Simultaneously, the quality of Guyana’s chess will improve. In the Grand Prix series of six tournaments, the three highest scores would be considered for each competitor. Though in certain tournaments, the points would be higher than perhaps a past one, for example, the national championships would command a higher points rate. Why? Because it is the national championships. In all likelihood the games would be tougher, livelier, more meaningful, and fulfilling. The reward should, therefore, be greater.
The Gaico tournament has been an eye-opener since it began. Firstly, the turnout is encouraging and higher than expected. Secondly, the competitors are fighting to the finish. In his book, Grandmasters of Chess, Harold C Schonberg describes the following scenario: Capablanca and Alekhine are playing for the world championship title. Draws not counting, the first man to reach six wins, obtains the title. The score is 5-2 in Capablanca’s favour. Suddenly, Alekhine starts fighting back. He improves the score to 5-3. When the score goes to 5-4, Capablanca is clearly worried. Following a few draws, Alekhine catapults the score to 5-5 and Capablanca, as the world champion, begins fighting for his life! However, Alekhine takes the championship.
At the Gaico tournament, it seemed to me as if every player on the losing side was fighting for his or her life. Perhaps this was the kind of scenario that national player Loris Nathoo envisaged when he proposed a six-game match to decide the 2020 national chess championship of Guyana.
Someone told me that a competitor’s phone rang during the fourth round of the competition on Wednesday evening last. I was not aware of the ringing tone. Perhaps I was deep in concentration as I was trying to extricate myself from a miserable position. I lost the game. In FIDE-rated tournaments such as the current Grand Prix one, all cell phones should be turned off or placed on silent until play ceases in the tournament hall. Failure to do so should cause the person to lose the game. If someone’s cell phone rings, the game in which the person is engaged should cease immediately, whether that person’s opponent is in check or not.
During the 2014 Umada Cup in George-town, Keith Simpson was playing a young lady from Trinidad and Tobago. Simpson’s phone rang in his bag. As he was trying to quiet the phone, his Trinidadian opponent calmly and purposefully signed her and his scoresheet and stopped the clock. The game was over.
At the conclusion of the fourth round of the Gaico tournament, Region Three’s Taffin Khan was the leader with the maximum four points. He was followed by Glenford Corlette and Wendell Meusa. The tournament ends today.
