NEW GPC INC 2024 Chess Championship: Incumbent Khan confident of retaining title

…Mixed reactions of nine challengers entering fray

Reigning National Open Chess Champion, Candidate Master (CM) Taffin Khan, feels confident of winning the 2024 NEW GPC INC. Open Chess Championship, which begins this weekend at the National Racquet Centre in Georgetown.
“I think I have a really good chance to win the championship, based on the pairings,” Khan has summarized as he prepares to meet his nine opponents.
The top nine challengers, including four juniors, emerged recently from the rigorous qualifiers’ tournament to enter the championship. They are: FIDE Master (FM) Anthony Drayton, Justino Da Silva, Roberto Neto, Candidate Master (CM) Ronuel Greenidge, Junior Champion Keron Sandiford, Sachin Pitamber, Loris Nathoo, Kyle Couchman and Ethan Lee.

They provided their insights to the Guyana Chess Federation on their predictions and plans for the major event on the local chess calendar. What they had to say is stated below:
Anthony Drayton, First Place Qualifier: FM Anthony Drayton has asserted that he hopes to play well and see results from that.
Acknowledging that the National Championship is the most prestigious tournament of the year, he has admitted to also having the 2024 Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary in his sights.
“I’m now focused on improving my gameplay rather than the results. Results will show based on good quality chess,” Drayton has said.
Justino Da Silva, Second Place Qualifier: Justino Da Silva also wants to secure a chance to participate in the Olympiad, but is focused on giving his best shot for the championship.
“I’m in it to win it,” he declared. “It’s no mercy over the board”, he warned.

Roberto Neto, Third Place Qualifier: Roberto Neto has been cautious in his approach. “Although I am typically seen as the underdog, I recognize the emerging talent of young players like Ethan Lee, Keron Sandiford, Sachin Pitamber and Kyle Couchman. It is essential to stay sharp, as a single mistake could lead to a swift checkmate from these skilled opponents,” he asserted.
Ronuel Greenidge, Number Four Qualifier: Ronuel Greenidge feels National Chess Championships are usually tough, because it is where the best players do well. However, he is comfortable with his preparation.
“It’s usually general, so no matter what is presented to me, I would be able to confront (it) appropriately. In the past, I usually placed on the podium. I’m pleased with my performance, and therefore I’m enjoying the entire process,” he explained positively. Greenidge has been away from competitive chess since 2021.
Keron Sandiford, Number Five Qualifier: reigning Junior Champion Keron Sandiford believes in his ability to do well. “I’ve been having a good year, and I see no reason why I wouldn’t be able to take this form to the Nationals,” he remarked.

Sandiford has also been upbeat on his preparations. “I have an idea of what openings I’ll be playing, as well as the different variations my opponents can possibly go into,” he offered.
Sachin Pitamber, Number Six Qualifier: Junior player Sachin Pitamber, one of the youngest participants in the championship, is aiming to defeat a titled player in order to improve his rating (playing strength). The current double-titled Under-14 and Under-16 champion has outlined his preparation for the event.
“I expect most of my opponents who play as black to go into either a French Defense, symmetrical King’s pawn, or Sicilian Defense. My opponents as white generally switch between e4, d4, and c4; or Taffin usually plays Nf3,” he said.
Loris Nathoo, Number Seven Qualifier: Veteran player Loris Nathoo was in high praise for the lineup of young, diverse and talented contenders, but has thrown down the gauntlet to them. he has been steadfast in his desire to win the title this time, despite his challenging work commitments. He also expects stern resistance from his seasoned counterparts.
“My intention is to better my performance from last year, when I was the 1st runner-up; that means I will be taking home the crown this time. My plan is to play solidly, and enjoy the journey. It’s going to be a fantastic experience, (and) I’m looking forward to the excitement of each game,” he summed up.
Kyle Couchman, First-time Open Championship participant: Eighth Placed Qualifier junior Kyle Couchman has said he is working on his strengths and weaknesses, analyzing his practice games to identify his mistakes and missed opportunities, and intends to learn from them.
The teenager also plays stronger players when possible, in order to identify areas for improvement.
“My mentality is to stay positive and aim high, but to remember to enjoy the experience,” he added.
Couchman is also setting his sights on a top spot at the end of the tournament. “Being realistic, I would like to place in the top five, because this is my first National Open Championship and I will be up against a lot of skilled and experienced players,” he concluded.
Ethan Lee, Number Nine Qualifier: Junior player Ethan Lee is expecting a rigorous competition, is reinforcing what he already knows, and is avoiding past mistakes.
“This National Championship will definitely be a tough tournament, with the highest level of opposition I’ve ever faced in a round-robin. With the right combination of luck, nerves and skill, finishing within the 5th-7th range would be ideal,” he disclosed.
“However, I tend to not concern myself with podiums, players and points, but to only focus on playing against the pieces opposing me at a given time,” Lee emphasized.
The NEW GPC Inc-sponsored 2024 Championship consists of nine rounds with classical chess time controls, and will be played at the National Racquet Centre on Woolford Avenue in Georgetown.
Defending Champion Taffin Khan will face his nine opponents, who will also confront each other in a single round-robin format.
The 2023 Championship had resulted in a fast-paced playoff between Khan and Nathoo, after they had emerged with even scores. Khan prevailed at the end, and won the title.