Draughts competition commences tomorrow

National `A’ class champion Khemraj Pooranmall should start as favourite when the Guyana Draughts Association (GDA) stages a three-category tournament which commences this weekend.

Pooranmall, who defeated arch-rival and GDA president Jiaram to win last month’s Open Mashramani competition, will again be favoured to win the `A’ class and Open 100 squares competitions.

The GDA competitions will be held on three consecutive weekends beginning tomorrow with play in the `B’ category tournament.

Next Sunday the `A’ class competition will be held with the International 100 squares competition set for April 12. All matches will be played at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue. The `B’ and `A’ class competitions will be played on 64 square boards and the top five players will be eligible to compete in the A class competition come April 5.

Entrance fee is $300 per player and at stake are trophies from the NSC. Players are asked to register before 10am for a prompt start. All draughts players in the country are invited to compete.

Apart from Pooranmall and Jairam, Mark Braithwaite, Steve Bacchus,

Esan Anderson and Mitra Persaud are also expected to vie for top honours.