President David Granger hosted the President’s 50th Anniversary Shield Rapid Chess Tournament on Saturday, February 22 at State House, at which Guyana and Suriname were participants. The tournament was envisaged as a significant part of our nation’s 50th Republic anniversary celebrations. From the time Guyana’s Republic was born, chess tournaments have been featured.
President Granger was the president of the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) during the mid-1980s. His predecessor was Forbes Burnham, who was president for both the GCF and the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. President Burnham established the Guyana Chess Association in 1972 in a structured manner, with the intent of creating an intelligent and passionate pastime.
Legal practitioner James Bond, who was also the former president of the GCF and who officiated at the tournament on behalf of the Chess Academy, stated that a 2020 Independence Chess Tournament would also be held at State House. The hosting of chess tournaments at State House is nothing new. It began with Burnham and has started again with the current administration. It would seem that Heads of State who play chess try to maintain an evergreen affinity with the game and are not hesitant to put the state’s facilities at chess players’ disposal. President Burnham accommodated chess players at both his Vlissingen Road and Belfield residences on a continual basis. At certain times he invited his ministers and diplomatic representatives to fraternize with chess players. When he headed the GCF, Burnham hosted barbecues and dinners to raise funds for chess.
It is little wonder chess is often referred to as the ‘Game of Kings’. In 1914, Nicholas 11, Czar of all Russia, was host to a great chess tournament instigated by the St Petersburg Chess Society. Nicholas himself subscribed 1000 rubles toward the prize fund. The world chess champion, Emmanuel Lasker at the time, participated. At the end of that tournament, the word grandmaster was coined. At the banquet after the match, the Czar named five players – Lasker, Capablanca, Alekhine, Tarrasch and Marshall – the original grandmasters of history.
It is clear therefore, that kings, presidents and prime ministers, stirred the waters of the great game to make it loved and gratifying. Burnham, perhaps, was aware of Heads of States’ involvement with chess, and perhaps, wanted to bring status to it. President Granger, with his extensive background of history, would be familiar with past events in chess and the military, and naturally, would be aware that new ideas emanate from chess.
So, President Granger hosted the 50th Anniversary Shield at State house. For the Shield, 75 players participated. Many were children, teenagers, young adults and some mature adults. Parents and other relatives carried the total figure to between 110 and 120 persons. Suriname brought a small contingent, but they were seasoned chess players.
West Demerara’s Taffin Khan won the tournament without dropping a game. He won four games and drew three. It was a coup-de-grace for Guyana against Suriname although the neighbouring nation did not bring its most proficient contenders. Previously, it was unthinkable that Guyana could take a first prize from Suriname in chess.
The winners were:
1. Taffin Khan, Guyana
2. Best Senior Female Player – Sheriffa Ali, Guyana, Law Student, University of Guyana
3. Best Junior Male Player – Ethan Lee, Guyana, Marian Academy
4. Best Junior Female Player – Victoria Kaslan, Suriname; she acquired the most points in the overall tabulation, although she is a junior chess player
5. Best Under-12 – Mayas Khan, Guyana, Marian Academy
During the tournament, I enquired from an intelligent junior player how he lost the game he was playing when he had a winning position. He answered my question by coughing. After a moment I realized it was another proof of the axiom that no healthy person had ever lost a tournament game. I felt like shaking his hand.
The blitz experts were there in Chino Chung and Rai Sharma. Local chess knows they play with dizzying speed and are a match for any visiting team. The imperturbable Head-of-State made us feel relaxed and comfortable. He promised the State House venue would be made available for chess if there were no prior engagements. He took photographs with a number of children, teens and adults. It was a lovely Saturday afternoon!
