With one day of games left to be played in the delayed 2020 National Chess Championship, World Chess Federation (FIDE) national master Taffin Khan was on Thursday leading the scores with 5½ points after six games.
Wendell Meusa was the closest contender. How-ever, he defaulted when he did not show up for his game against 2019 national champion Anthony Drayton. But having defeated Glenford Corlette in a match that was postponed twice, Meusa was in second position with 4½ points at the time this column was written.
A win equals 1 point and a draw equals ½ point.
Having lost to Khan, Corlette and Mars during this tournament, Drayton has put himself out of contention. I am confident, however, that he will bounce back for the 2021 championship.
Yesterday’s games featured Davion Mars vs Khan, Meusa vs Rai Sharma, Errol Tiwari vs Drayton and Corlette vs Loris Nathoo. There is a possibility that if Meusa bested Sharma and Khan lost to Mars, Meusa will equal Khan in points. If such a scenario occurs, which I believe is unlikely, it would be a question of proceeding toward the eminent tie-break system to determine the 2020 national chess champion.
Meanwhile, I predict that the 2021 championship will be more intense. The fire will emanate from the youths.
