“Only the best will represent Guyana at the Chess Olympiad in July,” says Loris Nathoo, a director of the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF). Nathoo is the creator of the Guyana Grand Prix series, and the GCF is using that system to select the men and women’s teams for the Olympiad. It is similar to the FIDE Grands Prix with adjustments made to suit the local situation.
Nathoo declared: “The employment of the Grand Prix method would ensure a process that is transparent, exquisite and non-controversial. You either win or go home.” This year’s Olympiad, which was scheduled to be held in Russia, was brought forward to July instead of September, and will be held in Chennai, India. So, instead of having the established four Grands Prix, the GCF has lessened the number to three. The top scores of two tournaments would be used instead of the traditional three because time is against the GCF.