Chess with Errol

Four qualify for Olympiad women’s team

The Gobin sisters, Samirah (left) and Suriyah, playing alongside each other at the Ladies Olympiad Chess Championship, which was conducted recently at the National Stadium, Providence. Samirah placed second in the Championship and qualified to represent Guyana at the 2020 Chess Olympiad in Russia. She is a Grade 10 student of the Al-Ghazali Islamic Academy School. Her sister Suriyah, is a first-year computer science student at the Government Technical Institute, Georgetown. (Photo by Bibi Gobin)
The Gobin sisters, Samirah (left) and Suriyah, playing alongside each other at the Ladies Olympiad Chess Championship, which was conducted recently at the National Stadium, Providence. Samirah placed second in the Championship and qualified to represent Guyana at the 2020 Chess Olympiad in Russia. She is a Grade 10 student of the Al-Ghazali Islamic Academy School. Her sister Suriyah, is a first-year computer science student at the Government Technical Institute, Georgetown. (Photo by Bibi Gobin)
By

The Women’s Olympiad qualifier has ended with four players identified to represent Guyana at the 2020 Chess Olympiad in Russia. 

Sasha Shariff won the playoff tournament, while Samirah Gobin, Sheriffa Ali and Yolander Persaud, respectively, placing behind her. Gobin is a newcomer to the Olympiad party as the other three were previous Olympiad representatives. For many who are knowledgeable in the local chess fraternity, Gobin was an inspired player and earned her second place in the line-up of Olympiad hopefuls. 

The proficiency of the women’s team is improved and it is geared to perform well at the Olympiad.

In the men’s qualification tournament to identify nine players to contest the 2020 National Chess Championship, Taffin Khan was victorious. He was followed by Loris Nathoo, Wendell Meusa, Glenford Corlette, Davion Mars, Errol Tiwari, Saeed Ali, Rai Sharma and Justino Da Silva. This qualification tournament was not one which identified players to participate in the 2020 Chess Olympiad, but rather to contest the National Championship. The selection of the men’s 2020 Olympiad team is to be confirmed after the Grand Prix points are compiled. The players with the highest number of points will be selected. The top six Grand Prix point standings are:

1. Taffin Khan – 91

2. Wendell Meusa – 62

3. Loris Nathoo – 56

4. Anthony Drayton

5. Davion Mars – 42

6. Glenford Corlette – 40

The final of the Grand Prix points will be awarded during the 2020 National Championships.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Chess Academy, a new chess body, will host the President’s 50th Anniversary Shield, an eight-round, rapid tournament on Saturday, February 22nd at State House. There will be senior and junior men’s and women’s categories and prizes will be awarded in all categories, including a special prize for the Best Under-12 player. The start time of the tournament is 1.30 pm, while the registration of players is to begin at 12.30 pm. The time factor is 15 minutes per game in addition to a 5 second increment. The tournament is being held with the compliments of President David Granger.

Trending