NATIONAL Senior Chess Champion Taffin Khan, once again demolished his competitors with a mixture of speed and concentration during the fourth preliminary round of the Red Cherry Ladder Chess tournament played on Emancipation day at the KEI-SHAR’S Sports Club. Berbician Kriskal Persaud, former national champion, lost one game each to Anthony Drayton and Ronuel Greenidge as the players continued to jostle each other to qualify for the finals. Greenidge edged past Persaud to place second in the fourth preliminary round while the former national champion placed third.
With two more preliminary rounds to go, players will again challenge each other at rapid chess in preparation for the finals involving the top four on Saturday August 11.
The accumulated points of the top twelve after four of the six preliminary rounds read : Taffin Khan 63, Ronuel Greenidge 53, Kriskal Persaud 51, Anthony Drayton 46, Saeed Ali 44, Glenford Corlette 43, Chino Chung 42, Roberto Neto 40, David Khan 35, Davion Mars and Irshad Mohamad 30 apiece, and Sheriffa Ali 28.
The fifth preliminary round is on Sunday August 5 at the same venue with another six matches. Players would each have 15 minutes on the clock to score victory in the limited time allotted.