FIDE Masters Anthony Drayton, and Jessica Callender won the National Open and Women’s Chess Qualifiers which concluded at the National Stadium, Providence on Sunday, sealing their respective berths in the 2022 National Championship.
In the Open Qualifiers, former national champion Drayton recorded a perfect campaign, finishing on eight points from eight rounds. Master Wendell Meusa (7 points), Roberto Neto (5 points), Loris Nathoo (4.5 points), Frankie Farley (4.5 points), Ethan Lee (4 points), Rashad Hussain (4 points), Justino De Silva (4 points) and Rai Sharma (4 points) rounded out the other eight positions respectively.
They will now challenge Candidate Master Taffin Khan in the nine-round 2022 National Championship. In the Women’s Qualifiers, Callender ended on seven points to secure the top spot, defeating Pooja Lam who also finished on seven points, due to a direct encounter tie break.
Meanwhile, Anaya Lall (6 points), Nellisha Johnson (5 points), Adia Alphonso (5 points), Maliha Rajkumar (4 points), Waveney Johnson (4 points), Angel Rahim (4 points), and Elizabeth McRae (3 points) finished 3rd-9th respectively. The aforesaid cadre will now attempt to dethrone current Women’s Champion 18 year old Sasha Shariff.
The 2022 National Championship will commence on May 21st at the same venue. The event will serve as part of the selection criteria for the 44th Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India in July/August.
