Guyana Chess Federation awards 2019 national champions

The Guyana Chess Federation (GCF), in a simple ceremony held last Friday at the National Racquet Centre, awarded the winners of the various national championships for the year 2019.

In the National Championship, FIDE Master Anthony Drayton played unbeaten to capture the Open category, finishing the tournament with seven points from seven games. Candidate Master Taffin Khan took second position with six points, his lone defeat coming against FM Drayton.
Loris Nathoo, Roberto Neto and Kriskal Persaud all finished on 3.5 points. With the tie-breaker added, Nathoo was adjudged third, Neto forth, and Persaud fifth. Shiv Nandalall took the sixth position, while Saeed Ali took seventh.
Candidate Master (CM) Wendell Meusa, who chose not to participate, finished with zero points and eight positions respectively.
In the Women’s Championship, Woman Fide Master Maria Varona-Thomas also played undefeated to secure seven points from seven games. Chelsea Juma and Nellisha Johnson both finished on five points. With the tie-breaker added, Juma was adjudged second and Johnson third. Fourth position went to Samirah Gobin, while sixth and seventh positions went respectively to Sasha Shariff and Angel Rahim. Waveney Johnson took seventh, while the eighth position went to Aneesa Hussain.
In the Sasha Cells Junior Championship, Andre Jagnandan, playing in his first Junior Championship, secure his first junior title with five and a half points. Ghansham Allijohn and Rajiv Lee each finished with four and a half points. With the tie-break, Allijohn was adjudged second and Lee third. Ethan Lee took fourth, and Jayden Taylor fifth. Chelsea Juman, Joshua Gopaul and Jarrel Troyer took the sixth, seventh and eighth position respectively.
The Guyana Chess Federation hereby expresses its appreciation to the Director of Sports, Christopher Jones, and the National Sports Commission; Sasha Cells, and Trophy Stall for their contribution in making these tournaments a success.