FIDE Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India: Nathoo, Lee, Shariff, Callender score points in Round 7

The Guyana Chess team competing at the FIDE Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India has recorded wins during Round 7 action against Cape Verde, with Loris Nathoo and Ethan Lee scoring for the Open team, while Jessica Callender and Sasha Shariff won their games against their Oman counterparts.

The Open team had a rough fight against Cape Verde. Loris Nathoo dispatched his opponent Aires Fortes with ease, but although CM Taffin Khan and Roberto Neto held on valiantly on Boards 1 and 3, they unfortunately lost their games.
Facing opponent Celia Rodriguez Guevara, rated 1859, much higher than himself, Ethan Lee (1515) failed to convert his winning position after a 5-hour struggle, and was forced to settle for a draw, leaving the match score 2.5 – 1.5 in favour of Cape Verde.
On the Women’s side, Jessica Callender won against Afra Al Balushi, with Callender’s commanding the lead from the beginning of the game resulting in her 4th victory in the tournament. Callender is now on 4 points.
Sasha Shariff also had the advantage against her opponent Mariya Al Balushi in the beginning of her game, and easily converted to a win, by which she now has 3 points.
Nellisha Johnson and Pooja Lam were unable to convert to wins against their Omani opponents, although Lam originally had an opportunity to finish with at least a draw. The match score results: 2-2.
Round 8 continues with the Open Team facing off Brunei Darussalam, seeded at 166, with Taffin Khan, Anthony Drayton, Loris Nathoo and Roberto Neto, while the Women’s team of Sasha Shariff, Pooja Lam, Nellisha Johnson and Anaya Lall face off Fiji, seeded at 114.
Meanwhile, the FIDE Congress members will cast their vote for a new FIDE President on August 7th, and GCF President Frankie Farley will be representing Guyana at that session.
Links to live games can be found on the Guyana Chess Federation Website: www.guyanachess.org.