Sasha Shariff recorded her first point in the 44th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India, defeating Theophane Paul of Haiti during their round four matchup at the Sheraton Mahabalipuram Resort and Convention Centre, according to a Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) release.
Shariff, 18, who is ranked 1183, defeated her experienced opponent who is rated at 1493.
“Each member of Guyanese Women team with the exception of Anaya Lall, now have one point with 7 rounds left to go. In Round 3 the women defeated Laos when Pooja Lam, Nellisha Johnson and Jessica Callender scored wins and won the match 3-1,” the release stated.
Meanwhile, 12-year-old Anaya Lall, who is a reserve player, will debut in round five alongside team members Johnson, Callender and Lam. They are slated to face-off with 121st ranked Malawi. Guyana is seeded 136th.
In the Men’s division, the team of Taffin Khan, Anthony Drayton, Loris Nathoo and Roberto Neto lost to 108th ranked Jamaica. Guyana, seeded 152nd, will now oppose 121st ranked Namibia. The team will comprise Khan, Drayton, Nathoo and Ethan Lee.
The FIDE Congress is also being held in Chennai from July 31 to August 9, with the General Assembly and Elections scheduled for August 7. A new FIDE President will be elected at the forum. This event is being attended by GCF’s President, Frankie Farley.
