… Sham Khan plays unbeaten in junior category
WENDELL Meusa turned in another brilliant performance to win the National Chess Qualification when the curtain came down on Sunday at the Kei-Shars Sports Club.

Winner Wendell Meusa, Sham Khan and president of the GCF Errol Tiwari.

In Saturday’s action Meusa defeated Brian Thompson, Learie Webster played a master game to defeat Errol Tiwari while Taffin Khan got the better of Loris Nathoo.

Heading into the final day’s play, only Meusa was assured of qualifying as the next ten players were only separated between half of a point to one point.

Meusa’s first game of the day came against Ronuel Greenidge as both players fought vigorously for a win, but had to settle for a draw. However, Meusa found himself in trouble as he was down a knight and conceded a loss to Chino Chung in round ten.

Brian Thompson had previously upset Tiwari and Nathoo held Taffin Khan and Shiv Nandalall to a draw in round nine and ten respectively.

The seven players who have qualified for the National Championship 2009 are: Wendell Meusa, Learie Webster, Taffin Khan, Chino Chung, Ronuel Greenidge, Omar Shariff and Brian Thompson.

These seven players, along with the current National Champion Kriskal Persaud, will play a double round robin starting at the end of October. The final points standing: Wendell Meusa seven and a half, Learie Webster, Taffin Khan and Chino Chung on seven apiece, Ronuel Greenidge, Omar Shariff, Brian Thompson and Loris Nathoo on six and a half and Errol Tiwari and Shiv Nandalall on six points.

In the junior category it was no different as it took the final round to determine the top eight who will battle for the vacant junior title. Sham Khan played undefeated to win the junior category as he finished with six victories and four draws. He was closely followed by Saeed Ali and Rashad Hussain.

The eight players who have qualified for the Junior National Championship 2009 are: Sham Khan, Saeed Ali, Rashad Hussain, Raan Motilall, Crystal Khan Stanley Ming Jr, Kana Khan and Cecil Cox. The junior players will also play a double round-robin starting at the end of October.

The final points standing reads: Sham Khan and Saeed Ali eight points (Khan won base on the Median Buchholz Tiebreaker System), Rashad Hussain seven and a half, Raan Motilall seven, Crystal Khan and Stanley Ming Jr six and a half, while Kana Khan and Cecil Cox have six apiece.