There is some sort of expectation that the top finishers of the National Chess Championship would be guaranteed a place on the Guyana team for the spectacular biennial 2018 Chess Olympiad in September. Among a handful of participants at the recent National Senior Qualifier Chess Tournament, there was some harmony of opinion that the Guyana Olympiad team stands at the intersection of the national championship and the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF). If such a position finds favour with the GCF, it suggests a mature shift in the manner with which decisions were taken previously.
Not so long ago, it was not unusual to be saddled with an Olympiad participant who had magically materialized. A new method, that of selecting the finest talent, would be principled and would illustrate a degree of transparency. When such action is taken, Guyana will mount its most comprehensive chess team as it did during the 1970s and 80s. We anticipate that moment.
The year for chess started with a bang. Chess players were exuding satisfaction as they greeted each other following a lengthy layoff. The euphoric Loris Nathoo was so pleased with the charm of the situation that he organized lunches and sandwiches from the popular Red Cherry Restaurant for participants and onlookers on the weekend playing days. He attracted a round of applause from players at the tournament hall, although he attempted to make himself invisible during the ovation. Nathoo was playing competitive chess since he began his schooling at Queen’s College.
