The paramount news items in chess this week are Taffin Khan’s unsullied victory of the Guyana National Championship, and Magnus Carlsen’s win on his home turf in Norway Chess.
Only Ethan Lee was able to draw a game with Khan in his nine-round encounter. Obviously, Khan will be playing Board One for Guyana at the 2024 Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary. At each Olympiad which is held biennially, approximately 160 to 170 countries are participants. Each country fields a team of four players numbering from board one to four. Champions traditionally play Board One.