Barbados Heroes Day Chess Tournament: April 27 to May 1: FIDE Master Anthony Drayton finishes in joint 4th position

Guyana’s very own FIDE Master Anthony Drayton finished tied for 4th place with Trinidad and Tobago’s Khafra Enen-Sa-Tefa Ab in the Challengers Section of the 2024 Heroes Day Chess Tournament held in Barbados.
This tournament commenced on April 27th and ended on May 1st, 2024, after nine rounds of competition.
With a FIDE rating of 1978, Anthony Drayton has already become a household name on the regional chess scene. He had a fantastic start to the event by picking up four straight wins in the first four rounds: against Jeremiah Farley, Adam Roachford, WCM Hannah Wilson, and spectacularly against England’s Chris White.
Despite his initial success, Drayton faced challenges in the middle of the tournament, suffering three pivotal losses: against St. Vincent’s Chinedu Enemchukwu, where he fell into a trap in the Scotch Gambit; against Khafra Enen-Sa-Tefa Ab, where a strategic oversight in the London System, Jobava variation, led to a loss; and against Justin Parsons, marking a turning point in his campaign.
Despite these setbacks, Drayton showcased his resilience by securing wins in the final two rounds, finishing with a score of 6/9 points.
The tournament ended with Emar Edwards of Barbados as the overall victor, his having finished the event on 7 points from a possible 9. Edwards’s only loss was at the hands of Justin Parsons in round four. However, he was held to a half point on two separate occasions by 2nd place finisher Chinedu Enemchukwu and Ronaldo Roachford.
Anthony Drayton’s journey through the 2024 Heroes Day Challengers section is a narrative of triumph, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. He proudly represented Guyana, and has inspired many young chess enthusiasts to follow in his footsteps. He is a beacon of inspiration, demonstrating that with dedication, strategic thinking and resilience, success is within reach on the global stage.
In reflecting on the tournament, Drayton acknowledged the challenges, and thanked the Guyana Chess Federation for their support and the Barbados Chess Federation for the invitation. He regards the tournament as a valuable experience, and contributor to his growth as a chess player.
Drayton’s achievements in Barbados have not only showcased his skill and dedication, but have underscored Guyana’s rising prominence in the international chess community.