Gaico sponsors 2023 National Open Chess Championships

…Nathoo overtakes CM Khan, leads with 4 points

The 2023 National Open Chess Championships, sponsored by Gaico, commenced last Tuesday, November 21 at the Resource Centre.
Loris Nathoo, who has been on the chess scene for many years, leads the way with four points after a splendid defeat of Candidate Master (CM) Taffin Khan in round five. Khan threw down the gauntlet early in his face-off with Nathoo and employed the Benko gambit in his opening moves as Black. Nathoo accepted Khan’s overture and took the gambit pawn, but proceeded to outplay his opponent, centralising his queen and setting up a strong position over Khan. Nathoo’s offensive paid off, and Khan was unable to strike back to regain his lost position. Eventually, Khan’s time on the clock ran out, and Nathoo, who dominated the position with extra pawns, secured the win. Nathoo also defeated Gilbert Williams and Ethan Lee and drew with teens Jaden Taylor and Sachin Pitamber.

CM Khan is on 3.5 points after winning his game with Saeed Ali, Rolex Alexander, Justino DaSilva as well as a surprising draw with Taylor in round 2.
DaSilva is on three points after defeating Pitamber and winning round four by default. He drew with Keron Sandiford and Saeed Ali in rounds two and three. Junior champion Sandiford is also on three points with victories over Rolex Alexander and Lee and draws with DaSilva and Taylor.
Ali, and Pitamber, and Jaden Taylor are all on 2.5 points, with Lee and Williams on 1.5 points each. Alexander is yet to score.
Pitamber, emerging out of nowhere in the tournament circuit to qualify for the senior tournament, displayed grit on the chessboard and scored a victory over top junior Lee; he drew his match with the teenaged Taylor and seniors Nathoo and Williams. But the Queen’s College student went down to see Da Silva.
In a championship that can be seen as a clash of the generations, five of the 10 participants are juniors who have qualified to fight for a top spot in the senior’s league.
The nine-round round-robin tourney is being contested by the ten finalists – CM Khan, Lee, Sandiford, Williams, Pitamber, DaSilva, Nathoo, Alexander, Taylor and Ali who competed in the National Open Chess Championship Qualifiers recently held. Roberto Neto, placing seventh in the Qualifiers, opted out because of family commitments. Ali, who placed 10th, took up the vacant position. The National Chess Championships will continue over the next few days to determine the 2023 National Open Champion. The Chief Arbiter for the tournament is FIDE Arbiter John Lee, assisted by FIDE Arbiter Anand Raghunauth and National Arbiter Kim Shing Chong.
The Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) thanked Gaico once again for its sponsorship. Gaico has been a long-time sponsor of the GCF. The GCF also extended thanks to the National Sports Commission for the use of the Resource Centre.