Before the end of the first quarter of 2021, a strenuous effort should be made for the election of office bearers of the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) to be held. The election was cancelled last year, because of restrictions enforced owing to COVID-19.
Office bearers were elected for a one-year period in 2019. At that election, Frankie Farley succeeded James Bond as president of the GCF. The election is vital since funding from the World Chess Federation (FIDE) to the GCF hinges on it being held. FIDE requires democratic values for its 195 chess federations. Chess is arguably one of the oldest and most popular mental sports on our planet.
The GCF’s 2020 national championship, which ended this month, demonstrated that chess is ready to return to normalcy with over-the-board contact. The championship tournament, which only had eight players, was conducted without a hitch. Of course, if a wider tournament is envisaged, the GCF might want to adopt some innovative methods to keep the final participants to a minimum. Such methods can be explored and decisions taken to enhance the quality of chess in Guyana.
Loris Nathoo, who was until recently a member of the Executive Committee of the GCF, had implemented a method to guarantee that only the finest players proceed to Chess Olympiads. Nathoo organized a seemingly faultless points system which is similar to the FIDE method of determining a challenger for the world champion. Basically, players participate in three of four Grand Prix tournaments and those with the highest number of points at the culmination of the exercise, will represent Guyana. This will ensure each player at the Olym-piad is deserving of his or her place. Additionally, chess would remain vibrant and competitive. Incidentally, Nathoo is also a competitor and will be fighting for a place on the team.
Finally, the GCF should give some attention to distributing prizes immediately following the conclusion of a tournament, similar to the manner in which it is done internationally. I believe such a system will attract additional players to the GCF.
Chess game
Here is Alekhine’s first game against Capablanca in their 1927 World Championship match. Alekhine won the game and the match.
White: Jose Raul Capablanca
Black: Dr Alexander Alekhine
Place and Date: Buenos Aires, Argentina. September 1927.
Type of Game: French Defence, Winawer Variation.
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. exd5 exd5 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. Ne2 Nge7 7. O-O Bf5 8. Bxf5 Nxf5 9. Qd3 Qd7 10. Nd1 O-O 11. Ne3 Nxe3 12. Bxe3 Rfe8 13. Nf4 Bd6 14. Rfe1 Nb4 15. Qb3 Qf5 16. Rac1 Nxc2 17. Rxc2 Qxf4 18. g3 Qf5 19. Rce2 b6 20. Qb5 h5 21. h4 Re4 22. Bd2 Rxd4 23. Bc3 Rd3 24. Be5 Rd8 25. Bxd6 Rxd6 26. Re5 Qf3 27. Rxh5 Qxh5 28. Re8+Kh7 29. Qxd3+ Qg6 30. Qd1 Re6 31. Ra8 Re5 32. Rxa7 c5 33. Rd7 Qe6 34. Qd3+ g6 35. Rd8 d4 36. a4 Re1+ 37. Kg2 Qc6+ 38. f3 Re3 39. Qd1 Qe6 40. g4Re2+ 41. Kh3Qe3 42. Qh1Qf4 43. h5 R f2 0-1.
