Looking back at it now, from the vantage point of being a player myself, the 2022 National Chess Championships were energetic. There was a spirit of liveliness among the players and officials. The Open and women’s categories saw several champions: Taffin Khan, Wendell Meusa, Anthony Drayton, and Sasha Shariff, who had faced Olympiad competition previously.
However, Shariff’s competition came from Jessica Callender, who had won the National Qualifiers; Nellisha Johnson, who had faced Olympiad competition also; a strengthened Anaya Lall and the crafty Pooja Lam, among others. These competitions were contested by the very best chess players who were available in Guyana.
The players, however, were not the only ones who had their hands full. The officials were also busy. No one was permitted to enter the playing area without a face mask and these were provided for those who required them. Before and after each game, all the chess boards and pieces were sanitized. Each playing table was provided with water and sanitizers. The sanitization process was led principally and selflessly by arbiter and vice-president Anand Raghunauth, and assisted, whenever they were available, by Irshad Mohamed and Marcia Lee. During the National Qualifiers Tournament, I observed a boy about nine or ten, sanitizing his hands whenever he got up to look around.
For the first time ever, the National Chess Championships carried a live feed. Viewers, both here and overseas, were able to watch the games while they were being played. Senior arbiter of the Guyana Chess Federation John Lee had responsibility for making this happen. The GCF purchased six smart chess boards to accommodate the live feed and Lee did the rest. He carefully and patiently monitored the live games and ensured everything was above board.
In the end, Meusa triumphed in the Open, while an unyielding Lam won the Women’s category. Lam is 14 years old and attends the Saraswati Vidya Niketan School in West Demerara. Her game with top player Shariff ended in a draw.
Meusa, on the other hand, defeated both Khan and Drayton. He lost a single game to Roberto Neto. Two meritorious champions whose big test is the 2022 Olympiad in Chennai, India.
Chess game
White: Ethan Lee
Black: Loris Nathoo
Event: 2022 National Chess Championship, National Stadium, Providence, Guyana, May 20
Type of Game: Queen Pawn Opening
1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Bc4 Nxe4 6. Bxf7+ Kxf7 7. Nxe4 Rf8 8. Qd2 e5 9. Bg5 Qe8 10. Ne2 exd4 11. f3 Bf5 12. O-O Nc6 13. Rae1 Kg8 14. N2g3 Qf7 15. a3 Bd7 16. Bh6 Bxh6 17. Qxh6 Qg7 18. Qg5 h6 19. Qb5 Rab8 20. Qb3+ Kh7 21. Rd1 Qf7 22. Qd3 a6 23. Ne2 d5 24. N4g3 Bf5 25. Nxf5 Qxf5 26. Rxf5 Nxd4 27. Nxd4 Rxd4 28. Rxd4 c6 29. Re1 Kg7 30. c4 dxc4. Draw agreed.
