Loris Nathoo stunned a strong field to emerge champion of the Carifesta/Topco Juice-sponsored chess tournament which concluded at the Kei-Shar’s Sports Club on Sunday with the final four rounds of the eight round Swiss system tournament.
The tournament was so competitive that the outcome was not determined until the last round.

Heading into the final round, four players were tied on five points each but in a fierce battle against Stabroek News’ Chess columnist Errol Tiwari, Nathoo emerged with the win to secure first place based on the Median-Buchholz tie breaking system.

Webster was second and newcomer Jason Allicock third while Haatram Persaud and Michael Perreira rounded out the top five positions.

National champion Kriskal Persaud of Berbice, who led after the first four rounds, suffered back-to-back loses to Webster and Tiwari in rounds six and seven respectively and settled for a draw in round eight against Perreira.
Junior player Taffin Khan, who was second heading into the final day faded to 11th place.

Loris Nathoo, right and Shiv Nandalall deep in thought.

The final points standing reads:Nathoo and Webster six points; Allicock five-and-a-half; Persaud, Perreira, Tiwari, Kriskal Persaud and Alexander Duncan on five; Irshad Mohamed and David Khan on four-and-a-half; Taffim Khan and Shiv Nandalall on four; Ewan Devonish three-and-a-half; Kenrick Brathwaite and Hemraj Sanichara three; Roul Bhudu two and Alex Joseph on one point.

In the junior category, Ryan Singh played unbeaten to win the tournament with the maximum eight points.
Saeed Ali was second with six points; Khalid Gajraj third with five points; Irshad Ishmael fourth with three-and-a-half points and Sheriffa Ali, fifth with one-and-a-half point.

The top five players in both categories received cash prizes.
In a fine gesture Nathoo donated his prize to the Guyana Chess Federation.
The Tournament was sponsored exclusively by DDL under the Topco Juice Brand and was organized by the Guyana Chess Federation.