The Ministry of Presidency, Department of Cohesion/ National Sports Commission in partnership with the Deaf Association of Guyana and the Guyana Chess Federation recently concluded their Deaf Chess Level One Introduction Workshop.
This workshop which was held on March 19 at the National Racquet Center was to officially help recognize the Deaf Chess Club of the Deaf Association of Guyana (DAG), add Deaf Chess Club players to my local chess players database and to host the first of a strategically structured tri-annual training/coaching session for chess players from the Deaf Chess Club.
Students in deep concentration during the workshop
The core aim was to also help select a group of players that will be classed National Deaf Chess Team. Headed by National Chess Coach Wendell Meusa and assistant coach Taffin Khan along with Interpreters Ms. Fiona and Ms. Oxana Cox; a total of 30 participants were a part of the event.
Other aims of the course were to help oversee three (3) training/coaching sessions per year for the Deaf Chess Club, to identify, recruit/select and develop these national elected players routinely.
Also to help organize the National Deaf Chess Team that will participate in FIDE’s (World Chess Federation) Deaf/Dumb Chess Champions held specially for these players.
After, the training session was completed; Meusa and Khan hosted a mini practical rapid chess tournament for the kids to practice what was taught. The lgera Charles of David Rose won the open section followed by Asiyah Bacchus and Shivranie Persaud of Tuschen finished as 2nd and 3rd place runner up respectively.
In the under 20 section Anthonio Johnson of David Rose finished 1st followed by Sarah Ramkarran of Diamond Special School and Dellon Browne of David Rose. Lastly, the Under 16 section winner was last year tournament winner as well Aleem Baseer of Tuschen Special School followed by Ishmael Shaheed and Faith Bonnette of David Rose.
The Deaf Chess Guyana is a national chess club for kids from the Deaf Association of Guyana and this workshop was aimed at teaching kids the fundamentals of how to play chess. Guyana is one of the few countries in this hemisphere that is promoting chess among special kids and Meusa said he aims at continuously promoting chess among these kids and working with them.
“I am planning to visit the New Amsterdam and Linden Special Needs Schools to fully incorporate chess into their school activities and programmes”.
Special school such as Tuschen and David Rose chess clubs are more active and are producing young talented chess players.
Winner of the best youngest player was Anaya Lall of Tuschen Special School while workshop, Executive Officer of the President Youth Award of the Republic of Guyana, Dr. Allister Collins paid a courteous visit. After a brief meeting with National Chess Coach Mr. Wendell Meusa, Dr. Collins stated he hopes to have chess as part of the PYARG programmes across Guyana looks forward to working along with the national chess coach.
Ms. Sabine McIntosh, President DAG hopes that one day the Deaf Chess Guyana through the Guyana Chess Federation can be a member of the International Chess Committee for the Deaf (ICCD) and FIDE. Sabine also hope that we can elect a National Deaf Team to represent Guyana at the 18th Deaf Chess Olympiad of the ICCD which will be held from the 06th – 16th July, 2018 in Manchester, England. Meanwhile, the next programme is scheduled for next school term.
