Chess was designed to provide endless hours of enjoyment and pleasure to the person who indulges it. No game quite like it exists. Chess’s famed history goes back to India during the 6th century AD. From there it was carried to Persia (now Iran), and eventually, worldwide. Chess’s predecessor was called chaturanga in India, and its prehistory is the subject of speculation. A leading chess administrator was convinced the game has its origins in another planet. Such is its beauty and power to intrigue, delight and exasperate people.
Before the World Chess Federation (FIDE), the regulatory body for 
chess, was established on July 20, 1924 in Paris, the game lacked any obvious principle or organization. After Russia’s Alexander Alekhine defeated his old rival Cuba’s Jose Raul Capablanca at the AVRO tournament in the Netherlands in 1938, he refused to grant him a rematch for the World Championship title. Alekhine would play anybody in the world, except Capablanca and died without defending his title.
Things are different now. FIDE has the final say in important matches and tournaments. When former FIDE World Champion Magnus Carlsen refused to play Ian Nepomniachtchi for a second time, saying he had beaten him in the previous championship match, FIDE found a replacement for Carlsen and established a new champion.
In Guyana, there is an embarrassing lack of classical chess tournaments. We depend on these tournaments to sharpen our skills in preparation for the 2024 Chess Olympiad. FIDE was founded in 1924, so next year is, without question, an important one for participating countries. I would not be surprised if additional prizes are distributed and special incentives given for the milestone 2024 Olympiad. I am calling therefore, on the Guyana Chess Federation executive board to resuscitate the lost classical tournaments. They are required. Let’s get this show on the road.
Chess game
White: Dronavalli Harika
Black: Bibisara Assaubayeva
Event: 2023 Women’s Grand Prix, Nicosia, Cyprus, May 16
Type of Game: English Opening
1. c4 g6 2. g3 Bg7 3. Bg2 d6 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. d4 O-O 6. h3 e5 7. Nf3 Nc6 8. Be3 Bd7 9. dxe5 dxe5 10. Rc1 Be6 11. Qxd8 Rfxd8 12. b3 h6 13. O-O Ne8 14. Nd2 f5 15. Bxc6 bxc6 16. f4 exf4 17. gxf4 Bxc3 18. Rxc3 Nf6 19. Nf3 Ne4 20. Rd3 Bf7 21. Rfd1 Rd6 22. Bd4 Rad8 23. Be5 Rxd3 24. Rxd3 Rxd3 25. exd3 Nc5 26. d4 Ne6 27. h4 Kf8 28. Kf2 Ke7 29. Ke3 Kd7 30. Bf6 Be8
31. Ne5+ Kc8 32. Be7 Nd8 33. Bf8 h5 34. Be7 Ne6 35. d5 cxd5 36. cxd5 Nd8 37. Bxd8 Kxd8 38. Kd4 a6 39. Kc5 Ke7 40. a4 Kf6 41. Nf3 Ke7 42. Ne5 Kf6 43. d6 cxd6+ 44. Kxd6 Bf7 45. b4 Be8 46. b5 axb5 47. a5 b4 48. a6 b3 49. Nd3. 1-0. Black resigns.
