The Guyana Women in Chess Community (GWICC) is on a mission to increase women and girls’ participation in chess and will today host another Queenside Rapid Chess Tournament encouraging female chess players of all skill levels. According to a release from the GWICC, the Rouge Salon and Spa sponsored tournament will be a nine-round Swiss with 15 minutes per player, with 5 seconds added to the clock after each move. Games will commence at 9 am sharp at the David Rose Special School. This competition is the second that the GWICC is hosting this month. It noted that the first tournament’s goal was to encourage women and girls who were new to chess or did not have an ELO rating. Twenty-four females participated in that competition, including three women and the GWICC is optimistic that the turnout for this tournament will be significant. The release said that notable participants for the Queenside Rapid include Women’s Champion Jessica Callender, U-12 Champion Kataleya Sam, Treskole Archibald, Emma John, Chelsea Harrison, and Saura Ruplall. Winners Angelina Yhap, Rebha Lachman, and Lusianna Farlot from the beginner’s tournament are also expected to compete. Trophies and cash prizes will be awarded to the top six placements along with a Best Newcomer prize. The women’s arm of the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) said it has seen increased participation in chess by girls and is confident that the numbers will increase in the coming months.
“With chess gaining traction among the youths, the GWICC hopes to bridge the gap of female players in the once male-dominated sport. Women are also encouraged to join the thriving chess community, whether as casual players or competitive rivals,” the statement said.
Meantime, the Guyana Chess Federation encourages individuals to take up the challenge of playing chess, as it has many benefits, such as improving memory, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Chess has the additional benefit of building confidence and social connections and forging new friendships.
The GCF and the GWICC expressed gratitude to Rouge Salon and Spa for making the tournament possible. The GCF says it looks forward to their continued support and sponsorship. The GCF also thanked the David Rose Special School for providing the venue. Anyone wishing to join the GCF can log on to www.guyanachess.gy or text WhatsApp number 707-4529.
Chess game
White: Fabiano Caruana
Black: Alireza Firouzja
Event: 2024 Sinquefield Cup, St Louis, MO, USA
Type of Game: Italian Game, Classical Variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d6 6. b4 Bb6 7. a4 a5 8. b5 Ne7 9. O-O O-O 10. Nbd2 Ng6 11. d4 Bg4 12. Qc2 Qd7 13. Re1 Rfe8 14. h3 Bxf3 15. Nxf3 exd4 16. Bb2 dxc3 17. Bxc3 Ne5 18. Nxe5 dxe5 19. Rad1 Qe7 20. Rd3 Red8 21. Rf3 Rd7 22. Rf5 Bd4 23. Bd2 c6 24. bxc6 bxc6 25. Bg5 Rb8 26. Bxf6 gxf6 27. Qc1 Rb4 28. Bf1 Rd6 29. Qh6 Qf8 30. Qh5 Qg7 31. Kh2 Qg6 32. Qf3 c5 33. Rc1 Rb2 34. Qd1 Rdb6 35. Be2 Qh6 36. Bb5 Kf8 37. Rc2 Rb4
38. Qd3 Rd6 39. Bc4 Ke7 40. Qg3 Rd8 41. Qf3 Qg6 42. Qe2 Rdb8 43. Bb5 Rd8 44. Qf3 Rd6 45. g3 Qg8 46. Kg2 Rb6 47. h4 Rd6 48. Qe2 Rb6 49. Kh3 Qc8 50. Kg2 Qg8 51. Kh3 Qc8 52. Qg4 Rb8 53. Bc4 Qg8 54. Qe2 R8b6 55. Bd5 Rd6 56. Rc4 Qc8 57. Qg4 Qd7 58. Qg7 Kd8 59. Bxf7 Kc7 60. Qg8 Bxf2 61. Qa8 Qxf7 62. Rxb4 cxb4 63. Rxf2 Qd7+ 64. Kh2 Kb6 65. Qb8+ Ka6 66. Qa8+ Qa7 67. Qc8+ Qb7 68. Qc4+ Ka7 69. Rc2 Qd7 70. Qc5+ Ka6 71. Qf2 b3 72. Rb2 Qxa4 73. Qf3 Rb6 74. Qd3+ Ka7 75. Qd5 Qa3 76. Qd2 Qb4 77. Qd8 a4 78. Rd2 b2 79. Rd7+ Rb7 80. Rxb7+ Kxb7 81. Qd7+ Kb6 82. Qd8+ Kb5 83. Qd5+ Qc5 84. Qb7+ Qb6 85. Qd5+ Kb4 0-1. White resigns.
