Jaden Taylor shone during the Gaico 2023 National Open Chess Championship, with drawn games played between him and two of the most highly ranked players of the competition, Taffin Khan and Loris Nathoo.
Taylor worked the Sicilian Defence well in his game with Khan, attacking at the correct moments and defending when it was necessary to do so. His moves were precise and his inaccuracies were far from reaching outright blunders. Although the position was basically equal when the draw was agreed upon, I would say white (Taylor) was infinitesimally better. For one thing, he had succeeded in isolating the h-pawn which can well become a target in the latter part of the endgame. But predicting which player is better or worse when the position is just about equal, is never easy. The game is reproduced today so enthusiasts can make their own individual assessments.
The game between Taylor and Nathoo lasted 33 moves before a draw was called. It was a game filled with combinations and surprises. Taylor played the black pieces. In my estimation, white had the advantage although he was the exchange down. His pieces possessed more fluidity. Black had two rooks and a bishop on the back rank and only his queen was active. White had a rook that was perched on his opponent’s seventh rank which was attacking Black’s knight.
In other news, a playoff is scheduled to take place between Khan and Nathoo shortly, to determine who will wear the 2023 chess crown. The playoff games are to be conducted under the watchful eyes of FIDE senior judge and arbiter John Lee. Moves of the playoff games will be carried live, similar to those of elite international competitions.
In administrative matters, the executive of the Guyana Chess Federation was given another two-year term in office. Anand Raghunauth, the lone candidate, was re-elected to the office of president.
