GUYANA’S experienced players led the charge on the opening day of the eighth CARIFTA Junior Chess Championship, which is currently underway in Curacao.
In total, the 14-member team finished with 11 points from 28 games on Friday.
St Stanislaus students Ghansham Alijohn, Jaden Taylor and Jarrell Troyer finished with 1.5 points each, after registering a win and a draw. Troyer swept aside his opponent, Sicilian Paulsen’s mode of play with white pieces after he went for the aggressive English attack.
In the second round, he threw away a material advantage, just like his schoolmate Taylor, which allowed his opponent the half point. Taylor had executed brilliantly in round one, which led to a dominant opening win.

Alijohn, on the other hand, had bounced back to register an impressive draw after he lost the initiative and advantage in his opening round. In round two, his defence held and he used his wits to pounce on a slight opening to capture full points.
Young Milan Ramataursing won against fellow WMCF club mate Mahesa Boodhoo in round one and managed to hold a draw against a higher-ranked opponent in round two.
Chelsea Juman finished with one point. The excited youngster went down on time in round one, while in round two she rebounded to tactically destroy her opponent.
Another Saints student Savir Gookul had to forfeit his game in the first round after he fell sick (vomiting, possible food poisoning), but after help from medical personnel/parents Dr Rajkumar and Dr. Ryhan Singh, the youngster was able to bounce back and win his second round.

Also scoring a point was Samirah Gobin. She got off to a shaky start in round one after losing her way in the endgame. Gobin, however, bounced back nicely in round two to deliver a checkmate against her opponent. Mahir Rajkumar won his first game against a higher-ranked player and lost in round two while Arysh Raghunauth, who was nervous in his first regional tournament, played solidly to take two draws in rounds one and two.
The other players Joshua Khan, Jacob McDonald and Mahesa Boodhoo are yet to come off the mark.
Wendell Meusa travelled as coach, while Anand Raghunauth is head of the delegation.