Chess with Errol

The three candidates for the presidency of the world chess organization, known by its French acronym, FIDE, clockwise from left: Georgios Makropoulos (Greece), Arkady Dvorkovich (Russia) and Nigel Short (England). Current FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov has withdrawn from the election which takes place this September at the FIDE Congress in Batumi, Georgia. FIDE’s national federations number well over 150, second only to FIFA. (Photo: Chessbase)

FIDE to elect new president

National chess players Anthony Drayton and Loris Nathoo each won games against higher-ranked FIDE chess players at the strong Jamaican Open Tournament in Kingston, Jamaica, recently.

Ever since he became the youngest International Master in May 2016, India’s Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa’s quest was directed at becoming the youngest chess Grandmaster. However, he did not meet the deadline. Today, he has earned the distinction of becoming the second youngest Grandmaster. In the photo Praggnanandhaa (right) plays 20 opponents at the Hogeschool Zeeland chess tournament in Vlissingen, Netherlands, in a clock-simultaneous encounter. He won 20-0.

Indian child prodigy is world’s second youngest grandmaster

India’s child chess player, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, became the world’s second youngest Grandmaster in the history of the ancient game at the age of 12 years, 10 months and 14 days on June 24, in Italy.

Soumya Swaminathan, India’s finest woman chess player, will not compete in the Asian Nations Cup Chess Championship scheduled to be held in Iran next month. Swaminathan, a lawyer, 29, has refused to wear a hijab during the championship, and therefore becomes ineligible to participate. She cited a violation of her rights to freedom of expression. (Photo: Lennart Ootes)

No place for religious dress code in sports – Swaminathan

National chess champion Wendell Meusa and national chess player Loris Nathoo are representing Guyana in the Jamaican Open Chess Championship which is ongoing in Kingston, Jamaica.

National chess player Yolander Persaud (right) smiles as she receives her tournament trophy from Director of Sport Christopher Jones at the Racquet Centre on Friday, May 25. Persaud, who is also an attorney, won the Women’s Champion of Champions Tournament, which was hosted by the Guyana Chess Federation recently. She has been nominated to represent Guyana at the 2018 FIDE Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia, in September.

GCF taking chess to the people

Forbes Burnham (a former president of Guyana) used to say local chess was not meant for the upper echelons of society, although it was originally proclaimed as the game of kings.

A group photo of the recipients of prizes for the 2018 men, women and junior national chess championships. Director of Sport Christopher Jones officiated at a prize-giving ceremony that was held at the Racquet Centre on Friday, March 25. Jones (sitting) is flanked by, from left: Yolander Persaud, attorney; Maria Varona-Thomas, businesswoman and Nellisha and Waveney Johnson, students. Standing are the other prize winners.

Strong local chess players tipped for Jamaican Open

When serious chess activity is contained in the local arena, chess players love to say as they refer to the uncertain situation, “All is quiet on the western front,” the title of a book on World War 11 by Erich Maria Remarque.

The Johnson sisters, Nellisha (left) and Waveney (right) flank their chess coach Rai Sharma at the presentation of prizes reception hosted by the Guyana Chess Federation at the National Racquet Centre recently. Nellisha and Waveney, students of Christ Church Secondary School, placed third and fourth respectively in the women’s national championship.

Chess federation honours national championship winners

Two Fridays ago, on May 25, the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) held a prize-giving cocktail reception at the National Racquet Centre to honour the winners of the national men, women and junior championships in addition to the attractive Clash of Champions chess tournament.

Chess sisters! Nellisha, 16 (left) and Waveney Johnson, 17, enjoying a game of chess. The girls are students of Christ Church Secondary School and reside in Orealla. They learnt their chess in Orealla before coming to Georgetown. Nellisha is a member of the chess team that will represent Guyana at the 2018 Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia, in September.

Olympiad teams named

The Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) has named the men and women’s teams who will represent Guyana at the 43rd Chess Olympiad in September in Batumi, Georgia.

Olympiad team has practically picked itself

We have a fair idea of the composition of the team that will represent Guyana at the Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia in September.

The participants of the Clash of Champions chess tournament, which is ongoing, will have their games measured in accordance with international standards. Through their performances they can either increase or decrease their coveted FIDE ratings. Above: Glenford Corlette (left) opposes Saeed Ali, a previous national junior champion, last Sunday at the Aquatic Centre. The tournament ends today.

Meusa and Persaud likely to represent Guyana at Olympiad

National chess champion Wendell Meusa and Yolander Persaud have each gained the maximum three points in their quest to claim victories in the Champion of Champions chess tournament.

FIDE releases 2018 ratings

The World Chess Federation (FIDE) has released its May 2018 Ratings and Guyana is included.

Christ Church Secondary student Nellisha Johnson, 16, in competition at the Windjammer Hotel in Kitty during the National Junior Chess Championship recently. Johnson placed second in the National Women’s Chess Championship last week. She learnt chess in her home village, Orealla.

Varona-Thomas was shoo-in for women’s champion

When the two ears are put side by side [they form] the shape of a heart.

Darwin London (right) at the Banks DIH Malta Chess Tournament held at the University of Guyana Tain Campus in Berbice, in April 2013. I participated in the said tournament and recall London seizing a pawn from me during a minor piece exchange. London is currently in secondary school and he continues winning tournaments.

The Guyana Chess Federation needs all the goodwill it can get

John London, a Berbician father of two teenage sons, Marley, 17, and Darwin, 16, in a letter published on April 11 in the Stabroek News, expressed some dissatisfaction with the manner in which the Junior Team was chosen to represent Guyana at the 7th Carifta Chess Tournament in Suriname.