Joshua Gopaul played unbeaten to emerge champion of the Guyana Chess Federation’s (GCF) seven-round National Junior Chess Qualifier last weekend at the National Aquatic Centre, Liliendaal.
Young Gopaul notched up six wins and a draw to finish the competition as the only undefeated player, finishing with 6.5 points. His draw came against Jaden Taylor.
Ethan Lee, whose only defeat came at the hands of Gopaul, took second spot with six points, followed by Ghansham Allijohn, Nellisha Johnson and Roshawn Washington all locked on five points each.
Champion Joshua Gopaul (standing at centre) with other competitors and GCF executives including President James Bond (sitting at centre), Irshad Mohamed (standing at left) and Committee member Anthony Drayton (Standing at back right)
The other points standing Akili Theophil, Waveney Johnson and Savir Gookul also ended on four points, but did not make cut after the tie breaker took effect. Odit Rodrigues and Nickel Charles ended on three and a half, Rachael and Rebecca Ramlall, Runako Williams, John Wong, Joshua Williams all ended three points apiece. Andrew Ally two and half points, while Chelsea Juma, Gareth Da Silva, Zackery Persaud and Alexander Ally ended on two points each.
Taylor, Sasha Shariff and Dwayne Bess, with four points apiece, rounded out the top eight, who will contest the National Junior championship later this year when a new champion will be crowned since current champion, Saeed Ali, is ineligible due to age factor.
Ali though can compete now in the senior category, and the qualifier for that segment will start this Saturday at the National Aquatic Centre, Liliendaal.
