Senior Chess qualifier opens on Saturday

The top junior qualifiers following the conclusion of the tournament Sunday.
The top junior qualifiers following the conclusion of the tournament Sunday.

Following the conclusion of the 2018 Junior Chess Qualifiers last weekend the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) will turn their attention to the Senior Qualifiers Saturday.

The tournament is expected to attract a number of the country’s top players in former senior champions Anthony Drayton and Taffin Khan, Ronuel Greenidge and former National Junior champion, Saeed Ali  down to compete.

Registration is at noon and play will get underway at 1pm at the National Aquatic Center.

The seven-round Swiss system tournament has been solely sponsored by the GCF and there are a number of cash prizes and trophies up for grabs.

The top finishers will also fancy their chances of being selected for the 43rd Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia, from 23 September to 7 October 2018.

There will be only one round of action Saturday, with rounds two and three Sunday.

The fourth and fifth rounds will be held February 3 and the tournament will conclude February 5.

Meanwhile, Joshua Gopaul played unbeaten to emerge champion of the Seven-round National Junior Chess Qualifiers which ended last weekend at the National Aquatic Centre. Gopaul ended with six wins and a draw to finish the competition as the only undefeated player, totaling 6.5 points.

The other qualifiers for the National Closed Championships later this year are Ethan Lee, who was second with six points, Ghansham Allijohn, Nellisha Johnson, Roshawn Washington, Sasha Shariff and Dwayne Bess.

Allijohn, Johnson and Washington ended on five points each while Shariff and Bess ended the tournament with four points each.

Registration fee for the qualifiers is set at G$1,500 per player and interested players can call cell phone numbers 664-1650, 613-2083 or 600-0007 for registration and other information.