By Iva Wharton
Despite losing to junior player Roberto Neto National senior chess champion Taffin Khan was still able to triumph in the senior category of the annual Trophy Stall sponsored tournament which ended on Monday at the Kei-Shar’s Sports Club, Hadfield Street.
Playing in the penultimate round of the seven round Swiss system tournament, Khan was forced to resign after the wily Neto set a trap which ensnared Khan’s Queen, the most powerful piece on the board.
Khan, who ended on six points, in an invited comment afterwards, told this newspaper that he did not pay close attention to his game, but said he hoped not to repeat that mistake.
Glenford Corlette with five points and Maria Thomas with four and one half points, were second and third respectively.
In the junior category front runner Saeed Ali stumbled and found himself in third place after the dust settled.
The junior category was won by former national junior champion Cecil Cox who ended on five points.
Neto was second with four and one half points.
Three players, Saeed Ali, 12-year-old Sheriffa Ali, and Dravin Drickpaul each ended on four points.
Trenton Bennett was awarded the best newcomer trophy.
Shiv Nandalall, President of the Guyana Chess Federation said that the highlight of the tournament was the defeat of Khan.
He said that the juniors are very unpredictable adding that Khan seemed to have underestimated his opponent.
Nandalall added that it was a disappointment that reigning junior champion Suhai Fend dropped out of the tournament.
He said that despite Feng’s performance, he was still a worthy opponent.
The tournament started two Saturdays ago with 12 juniors and five senior participating.
