In what was classified as the most competitive Rapid Chess competition in the ancient county, Fide Master Anthony Drayton was crowned champion of the Berbice Chess Association (BCA) R. Sookraj and Sons ‘Outback Adventures’ tournament Sunday at the University of Guyana, Tain Campus, Berbice.
Playing in the seven-round Swiss system tournament and batting a field of 23 players, Drayton, the reigning National Champion, was pushed to the limit, finishing on six points.
Only Justino De Silva in the third round and Davion Mars in round seven managed to score draws.
Drayton defeated former National Champion, Candidate Master Wendell Meusa in the fifth round.
It was Meusa’s only loss in the tournament and he ended with six points also.
Coming in third was Mars with 5.5 points after he lost to Meusa.
In fourth position was former National Champion Kriskal Persaud with 4.5 points. That was enough to earn him the Best Berbice Player award. Also on 4.5 points were De Silva and Loris Nathoo while the Best Junior Player, Omesh Dyal, Chino Chung, Guyana Chess Federation President Frankie Farley, Shiv Nandalall and Jacob Nauth all ended with four points. Darwin London ended with 3.5 points.
At the end of the tournament, Farley credited the BCA for its efforts and thanked the sponsors for coming on board and aiding in the development of the sport.
The GCF also donated chess sets to London as well as to the Vryman’s Erven Secondary School.
Manager of R. Sookraj and Sons, Yuvindra Sookraj said he was pleased with the turn out and the level of competition displayed by the participants and pledged to assist in the sport wherever he could.
Meanwhile, President of the BCA, Krishnanand Raghunandan and his deputy Steve Leung both expressed satisfaction with the competition, indicating that this is hands down the most competitive field of players to ever play in a tournament organized by the sub association since its formation in 2017.
