Chess is a young people’s game

By Errol Tiwari On In Chess with Errol |
Three champions! From left Pooja Lam, Sasha Shariff and Jessica Callender, the future of Guyana’s women’s chess. They all excelled at the GAICO Grand Prix 2 at the National Stadium, Providence, last week.
Three champions! From left Pooja Lam, Sasha Shariff and Jessica Callender, the future of Guyana’s women’s chess. They all excelled at the GAICO Grand Prix 2 at the National Stadium, Providence, last week.

One of the prerogatives of age to a discerning eye is you understand people better. You understand human relations, politics and even foreign policy better. In chess, I believe it’s the other way around. The young are the kings and queens of chess. If I am wrong, try to explain Kasparov’s victory in a world championship match at age 22, and teenagers qualifying for a grandmaster title. Chess is a young people’s game.

In Guyana, the current crop of juniors playing the royal game are formidable. One teenage girl, I understand, has abandoned an overseas based training programme, suggesting it was moving too slowly for her. I commend and admire her firmness of purpose. That is how champions are raised.