Cumberbatch upstages Pooranmall, Ramdeen to win A Class event

Floyd Cumberbatch of Linden upstaged season competitors Khemraj Pooranmall and Jairam Ramdeen to win the Guyana Draughts Association National A Class event last weekend at the National Gymnasium.

Playing in the eight player round robin final Cumberbatch emerged with 21 points some five points clear of his rivals Pooranmall and Ramdeen who each ended with 16 points.

Winner of the Guyana Draughts Association A Class event Floyd Cumberbatch is flanked by Khemraj Pooranmall, left and Jairam Ramdeen, the second and third place finishers respectively.
Winner of the Guyana Draughts Association A Class event Floyd Cumberbatch is flanked by Khemraj Pooranmall, left and Jairam Ramdeen, the second and third place finishers respectively.

It was the first tournament win for Cumberbatch.

National champion Pooranmall was adjudged second and Ramdeen, who is also the president of the GDA, third.

Veteran Aubrey Straughn, making a return to competitive draughts after a number of years, placed fourth with 15 points while Steve Bacchus with 14 points rounded out the top five.

The first three finishers received trophies donated by the National Sports Commission.

Meanwhile, the Open 100 squares tournament will be contested today and interest in the tournament is high since the first two finishers will receive cash incentives.