The Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) is continuously making progress in its endeavour to promote chess by acquiring space at the School of the Nations to popularise the ancient game. The GCF, in a renewed effort, is hosting sessions at the school on Saturday mornings from 10 am to 12 noon. Students from Grade Three all the way up to Sixth Form are eligible to participate. The fee is $2,200 per month.
The School of the Nations Chess Club has students from St Stanislaus College, Georgetown International Academy, the Bishops’ High School, Mon Repos Primary, La Parfait Harmonie, Marian Academy, Mae’s School, Stella Maris and the New Guyana School ,among others. Of interest, in addition to learning chess, students will be allowed and encouraged to participate in friendly over-the-board competitions. The new Club began operations on September 17, 2022.
The chess column salutes the wonderful initiative undertaken by the GCF to methodically motivate the nation’s youth to play chess. The GCF official who is working behind the scenes to make this happen is Marcia Lee, a school teacher at Marian Academy. Although she doesn’t care for the publicity given here, it is necessary as she is a mover and shaker of positive happenings within the GCF who stimulates new developments. Her catchphrase to enhance the School of the Nations project is: “Chess is easy to learn”.
Internationally, last week, controversial Grandmaster Hans Niemann who was accused of cheating against World Champion Magnus Carlsen, was at the bottom of the table in the US Chess Championships. Having won his first game against Grandmaster Christopher Woo the previous week, he then lost four and drew three heading into the weekend.
Chess game
According to one chess enthusiast, this is the game that “almost broke the internet”. In my estimation, it is the most replayed and controversial game of 2022 so far.
White: Magnus Carlsen,
World Champion, Norway
Black: Hans Niemann, USA
Event: 2022 Sinquefield Cup,
St Louis, Missouri, USA
Type of Game: Nimzo-Indian Defence,
Romanishin Variation, September 4
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d5 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 dxc4 8. Nf3 c5 9. O-O cxd4 10. Qxd4 Nc6 11. Qxc4 e5 12. Bg5 h6 13. Rfd1 Be6 14. Rxd8 Bxc4 15. Rxa8 Rxa8
16. Bxf6 gxf6 17. Kf1 Rd8 18. Ke1 Na5 19. Rd1 Rc8 20. Nd2 Be6 21. c4 Bxc4 22. Nxc4 Rxc4 23. Rd8+ Kg7 24. Bd5 Rc7 25. Ra8 a6 26. Rb8 f5 27. Re8 e4 28. g4 Rc5 29. Ba2 Nc4 30. a4 Nd6 31. Re7 fxg4 32. Rd7 e3 33. fxe3 Ne4 34. Kf1 Rc1+ 35. Kg2 Rc2 36. Bxf7 Rxe2+ 37. Kg1 Re1+ 38. Kg2 Re2+ 39. Kg1 Kf6 40. Bd5 Rd2 41. Rf7+ Kg6 42. Rd7 Ng5 43. Bf7+ Kf5
44. Rxd2 Nf3+ 45. Kg2 Nxd2 46. a5 Ke5 47. Kg3 Nf1+ 48. Kf2 Nxh2 49. e4 Kxe4 50. Be6 Kf4 51. Bc8 Nf3 52. Bxb7 Ne5 53. Bxa6 Nc6 54. Bb7 Nxa5 55. Bd5 h5 56. Bf7 h4 57. Bd5 Ke5. 0-1. White resigns.
