The qualifier for entry into the senior 2020 National Chess Championship begins on Saturday January 25, at a venue to be announced. At the end of the qualifier, nine players will proceed to contest the National Championship in addition to last year’s national champion.
Although the qualifying tournament is designated a senior one, the juniors will be permitted to participate. Why? Because some of the junior chess players are equal in strength to their senior counterparts. And chess is a game for the young; you have to possess a good memory.
Youths lead the way for becoming chess grandmasters. We have 12 and 13-year-old’s qualifying as international masters, the pre-requisite for becoming a grandmaster.
The column had previously reported that the competition for the tournament would be fierce. In my estimation, this year’s qualifier promises to be the toughest in recent times. More chess is being played today and both the juniors and some seniors have employed coaches to prepare them for tournaments.
While national chess champions were formerly believed to be frightening adversaries, I doubt whether this holds true any longer. The champions could win, of course, but they have to work for their victories. The juniors, especially, are aiming to become superb technicians and combinational players. At times they can be ruthless attacking competitors. It is left to be seen who will qualify and who will not.
The big guns will all be there. Wendell Meusa and Taffin Khan will make it. Then there are Loris Nathoo, Ronuel Greenidge, Shiv Nandalall, Davion Mars, Justino DaSilva, Glenford Corlette, Roberto Neto and Saeed Ali, all creditable players. At the same time, we cannot discount the juniors: Ethan Lee, Rajiv Lee, Andre Jagnandan, Joshua Gopaul and Jaden Taylor. Those are all likely candidates to make it through, but only nine will be eligible. Who will be among the nine? One thing I know for sure is that the qualifier will bring pleasure, excitement and instruction to chess players who witness the games.
