Guyana’s top junior chess players were again given opportunity to demonstrate their mental acuity when the Wendell Meusa Chess Foundation (WMCF) hosted yet another children’s chess competition.
Dubbed the Diwali Kids Chess Tournament, this competition attracted some of Guyana’s top junior players and upcoming sensations in the chess fraternity.
Thirteen-year-old rising star Rajiv Lee of Queen’s College played undefeated in the Under-20 category of this competition, gathering 5.5 points from 6 games to take top honours.
This former member of the Marian Academy Chess Club made his debut into the local chess fraternity last July, and is already displaying signs that he has what it takes to be the next national junior champion. Just a few weeks ago, at the Marian Academy Scholastic Chess Competition, he played undefeated as well when he played in the team section for his school, Queen’s College.
Rajiv Lee’s only draw came against Guyana’s number 4 ranked junior national player Ethan Lee of Marian Academy, who should have lost the contest but played stubbornly to savage half of a point from a classical and theoretically drawn H-Pawn and King endgame.
Rajiv Lee also defeated Guyana’s #3 ranked national junior player Jaden Taylor of St. Stanislaus College in a highly anticipated match.
The only game in which Rajiv Lee stumbled was against 13-year-old Ronan Lee of Marian Academy, who superbly sacrificed his mighty Queen for 3 passed Pawns (G4, F5 & E6) with a Rook on E4, to gain a dangerous initiative. This was a massive advantage; however, under time pressure, Ronan Lee made an illegal move which resulted in a deduction of 5 minutes from his clock, and he ended up losing the contest.
School of the Nations’ fresh-faced talent, 11-year-old Joshua Khan, won the Under-12 category with 4 points from 6 games. He fought back in rounds 4 & 5 to take 1st place. Even though it was a 4-way tie with Noah Rahaman, Milan Ramautarsing and Joel Wong, the Swiss program placed Khan in first position with the better progressive rating.
Joshua Khan took his first tournament win in style, with 3 beautiful check mates in the last 3 rounds. Noah, Milan and Joel, all from Marian Academy’s Primary Department, played superbly to gain 4 points as well. However they had to settle for 2nd, 3rd & 4th places respectively.
Ethan Lee continued to have a great 2018 chess year by taking 2nd place, with his only loss being to Jaden Taylor, who finished third.
The young and promising Savir Gookul drew his last game against Jaden Lee, resulting in him dropping to 3rd place even though Jaden Taylor and Ethan Lee each finished on 4.5 points.
Savir Gookul, Chelsea Juma (both St. Stanislaus College students), Ronan Lee and Jonathan tied in 4th position with 3 points each; followed by Odit Rodrigues and Samirah Gobin on…
A keen eye must be kept on the lone female in the section, Italy Ton-Chung, who played some beautiful games, even sacrificing pieces as well. The young lady showed that she is a promising chess player, especially in her game against Milan, when she sacked her minor pieces to carry out a brutal King side attack.
Arysh Raghunauth also managed to obtain 3 points to finish 6th. Jibril Alli and his brother Kaiden Alli continue to show a lot of improvement after learning chess only last August at the Foundation’s summer chess camp.
Prize Winners:
Under 20
1st – Rajiv Lee (Q.C)
2nd – Ethan Lee (Marian)
3rd – Jaden Taylor (Saints)
Best Girl – Chelsea Juma (Saints)
Youngest Player – Ronan Lee (Marian)
Under 12
1st – Joshua Khan (Nations)
2nd – Noah Rahaman (Marian)
3rd – Milan Ramautarsing (Marian)
Best Girl – Italy Ton-Chung (Marian)
Youngest Player – Jibril Alli (Marian)
Special Prize – Joel Wong (Marian)
