One of the things that first attracted me to chess is that it brings you into contact with intelligent, civilized people – men of the stature of Garry Kasparov, the former world champion, who was my part-time coach. – Magnus Carlsen
Joshua Gopaul, a little-known chess player and student of St Stanislaus College, emerged winner of the National Junior Qualifier Tournament last Sunday at the National Aquatic Centre. Gopaul played unbeaten in the qualifier, conceding a rare draw for his victory. He and seven other participants will face-off for the title of national junior champion of Guyana later in the year. Twenty-four students, the majority from Marian Academy, competed in the qualifier. Gopaul’s victory, I suspect, was influenced by the internet, and, perhaps, by the modern Fritz chess programmes. We shall know when we witness the quality of his games. Guyana’s theoretical chess is comparable with the remainder of the Caribbean, because we are computer literate, and studiously inclined. Succinctly, our schools are respected.
Disappointingly, chess is
