April Open Chess Tournament: Drayton, Narine emerge winners in Open, Juniors’ categories

In exhilarating action in the 2024 April Open Chess Tournament which concluded on Sunday evening at the Catholic Life Center on Brickdam, Anthony Drayton and Ricardo Narine emerged winners in the respective open and junior categories.
In second place in the Open category was Damian Moulder, with Gilbert Williams occupying the third spot.

In the juniors’ category, the other places went to Kishan Puran, Sachin Pitamber, Kyle Couchman and Alexander Zhang, finishing second to fifth respectively. The best overall female was Aditi Joshi, while the best newcomer was Tendi Cameron.
The April Open Chess Tournament is an annual rapid chess open competition held in April. It was originally started as a birthday celebration of the founder Marlon Williams. However, over the last thirteen years, the tournament has evolved to a popular and highly anticipated event that now proverbially stands on its own.

The tournament now attracts many chess enthusiasts from all ages and genders, and persons from all walks of life, and has maintained its position as an excellent platform for the promotion of chess locally.

The event was held under the auspices of the Guyana Chess Federation, and was sponsored by SAB Mining, Andrews Supermarket, Maggie’s, Fantasy Gaming Lounge, JGS filling Station, and the Victoria Law Chambers & Designers House.

The first prize in the Open category was $300,000, with $200,000 going to the second-place finisher and $100,000 to the third-place finisher. They were also presented with trophies.
In the juniors’ category, the top prizes ranged from $30,000 to $3,000.
Additionally, the best overall female received $5,000 and a trophy, as did the best newcomer. (G-4)