“Once every four years the world goes to war. They call it the games.” – Advertisement for the 1970 movie, The Games, starring Ryan O’Neal
The matter of 2022 National Chess Champion Wendell Meusa’s withdrawal from the team to represent Guyana at the 44th FIDE Chess Olympiad in India and his subsequent attempt to reverse it, has been widely publicised. I was looking forward to watching him play against serious opposition at the Olympiad.
Playing top board for one’s country is no walk in the park. One famous grandmaster likened a tournament game at the level of the Olympiad to a five-hour final examination. If you win, you pass with distinction; if you draw, you are equal to your opponent’s abilities, but if you lose, you are dumped unceremoniously.
The Board One void that Meusa left when he withdrew, now goes to West Demerara’s Taffin Khan, who is equal in strength with Meusa. When the two compete, the game can go either way. Their FIDE ranks are about identical. They are both Candidate Masters.
Anthony Drayton will now move up to Board Two, Loris Nathoo to Three and Roberto Neto to Four. Ethan Lee, 19, who won the 2022 National Junior Qualifiers and placed second in the National Junior Championships, succeeded Meusa as his replacement. The choices for Olympiad selection depend on the number of Grand Prix points one collects over time to enable the process to be smooth and transparent. Lee qualified to succeed Meusa as he was next in line with Grand Prix points.
The road is not an easy one to travel at the Olympiad. Following approximately three hours of continuous concentration where an error can be fatal, a competitor is close to mental exhaustion. But all is not lost with respect to the Guyanese contingent as they have been practising with Olympiad time limits in tournament games. They demonstrate stamina when it becomes necessary to do so.
Meusa, Khan and Drayton have all excelled to become national champions at one time or the other. At specified times, they can be referred to as primus inter pares – the first among their equals locally. Where the women are concerned, five skilful entrants are raring to go. West Demerara’s Pooja Lam and Georgetown’s Sasha Shariff, two national champions, will lead. Jessica Callender, Nellisha Johnson and Anaya Lall will play Boards Three to Five.
The trip to India is no holiday for the Guyana team. They have to work strenuously to score victories and draws.
Guyanese, here and overseas, will be looking at them with freshly awakened eyes as chess continues to expand. 
