44th FIDE Chess Olympiad, Chennai, India: July 28 to August 10: Queensway donates $500K to national team

Queensway Group of Companies has donated half a million dollars to the local team set to compete in this year’s FIDE Chess Olympiad, to be hosted in Chennai, India from July 28 to August 10.

Nearly 200 countries are set to compete in the 44th edition of this biennial event, and the ten-member team that would represent Guyana includes Guyana’s youngest-ever National Women’s Champion, 14-year-old Pooja Lam, as well as Women’s 2020 Champion, Sasha Shariff.
Also on the women’s team is Nellisha Johnson, who is no stranger to this event, having competed in the 2018 Olympiad. Present on the team as well is Jessica Callender, who competed in the last two FIDE online Olympiads.
The women’s team is rounded out by its youngest member, 12-year-old Anaya Lall, who is the only deaf chess player to ever represent Guyana in an international event.
The men’s team features Candidate Master Taffin Khan and Fide Master Anthony Drayton, neither of whom is a stranger to this event, and both of whom would be aiming for higher chess titles this time around.
Seasoned players Roberto Neto and Loris Nathoo, who each have have an extensive list of victories under their respective belts throughout the years, have yet again shown their prowess at the game by qualifying to represent Guyana in this event.
Last but not least is Ethan Lee, who has represented Guyana multiple times in regional chess events, and had finished in top positions for most of this year’s chess events, including the National Junior Qualifiers and Championships.
The Queensway Group of Companies (QGC), owned by patriotic Guyanese, provides a range of goods and services to the local market; including security, import and distribution, transportation and equipment rental, alternative energy solutions, mining and quarrying, and real estate and medical care. Part of the QGC’s Mission Statement is a recognition of the Group’s responsibility to not just customers and employees, but also to the wider society.
The Guyana Chess Federation, elated that the Queensway Group of Companies has chosen to assist the country’s young chess players in their journey to represent Guyana, even as these players strive to developing themselves through advancement of the sport, wishes to express its sincerest gratitude to the Queensway Group for its generous contribution towards the team’s travel expenses.
The Olympiad team has already departed Guyana, and is expected to arrive in Chennai on July 27th (today).