Harper, Husbands joint leaders in Umada chess

Trinidad and Tobago’s master Ryan Harper and Barbados’ Orlando Husbands are joint leaders in the open category of the FIDE-World Chess Federation/Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) Umada Cup being held here at the Sleep In International Hotel.

Harper and Husbands will enter their penultimate preliminaries on 2.5 points a mere point five ahead of Jamaica’s Malaku Lorne who is in third with two points.

Dominicans Christopher Guzman and Darvi Ferreras along with T&T’s Visnu Singh are trailing Lorne, on 1.5 points each. They are followed by Barbadian Martin Del Castilo, Kevi Cupid (T&T) and the lone Guyanese in the open category Taffin Khan, who registered a point each. Suriname’s Roger Matoewi is in the cellar position with .5 of a point.

Meanwhile, in the closely contested challengers’ category three of the contenders share the lead after round three. Andrew Mellace (JAM), Krishal Persaud (GUY) and Maria Varona-Thomas are those front runners with three points apiece.

The remainder of the field is closely trailing and today will be an interesting third day where the players’ consistencies will be tested as the competition enters its third day.

Play is set to get underway at 9:30 a.m in the Conference Centre of the said venue.