Meusa, Khan win qualification tournaments

Wendell Meusa with  won the senior category of the National Qualification Chess Tournament which ended on Sunday at the Kei-Shars Sports Club.

Three players  Learie Webster, Taffin Khan and Chino Chung came in joint second with seven points while Ronuel Greenidge, Omar Shariff, Brian Thompson and Loris Nathoo ended on six and a half points.

Loris Nathoo, with hand on forehead, is all concentration during his match against Irshad Mohammed. (Aubrey Crawford photo)
Loris Nathoo, with hand on forehead, is all concentration during his match against Irshad Mohammed. (Aubrey Crawford photo)

The final two places were occupied by Errol Tiwari and Shiv Nandalall on six points each.

These 10 players along with defending national champion Kriskal Persaud will compete for the Closed national Chess Championships in a double round Robin tournament which begins at month end.

In the junior category Sham Khan played unbeaten to win that division. Khan ended with eight points from six wins and four draws.

Also ending on eight points was Saeed Ali but Khan was declared the winner based upon calculations using the Median Bucholz tie break system.

Rashad Hussain with seven and one half points occupied the third position.

The other qualifiers were Raan Motilall with seven points, Crystal Khan and Stanley Ming Jr. who ended on six-and-a-half points and Kana Khan and Cecil Cox on six points each.

On Saturday, Meusa defeated Brian Thompson, Webster defeated Tiwari and   Khan got the better of Nathoo. 

On Sunday, the final day of the 10 round Swiss system tourney, Meusa drew with Greenidge but lost to Chino Chung after being a knight down.

Meusa had, however qualified after Saturday’s play.

Thompson, who had previously upset Tiwari and Nathoo held Khan and Shiv Nandalall to draws in round nine and 10 respectively to book his anointed place in the top 10.