NATIONAL Senior Chess Champion Taffin Khan played unbeaten, demolishing all seven of his opponents to capture the senior trophy of the Trophy Stall Chess Tournament which concluded on Sunday at the Carifesta Sports Complex. His junior counterpart Anthony Drayton won the junior category but did not emerge unscathed as he recorded two losses to senior players.
Drayton’s second loss was to Khan on Sunday with a pawn down in an endgame struggle involving active knights, pawns and kings. The two were matched to play each other in the penultimate round.
Lone female participant Maria Thomas finished in second, Canada-based Guyanese Raymond Singh had to settle for third while Cleveland Hutson copped fourth among the seniors.
Among the juniors, Roberto Neto secured second place, former junior champion Haifeng Su was third and Carlos Petterson came in fourth.
The Best Beginner was Rajjv Muneshwer, 13 years old, of Queen’s College. Muneshwer, on Sunday defeated 17-year-old Davion Mars, one of last year’s National Junior Championship finalists.
Omar Britton Grant was again adjudged the Best Under-16 Player, a position he held in recent competitions. Ron Motilall copped the prize for Best Under-19 Player.
The final points standing for the seniors reads: Taffin Khan – seven, Maria Thomas and Raymond Singh – five each and Cleveland Hutson – 4 ½ points.
Among the juniors, Anthony Drayton scored five points, Roberto Neto had 4½ points and Haifeng Su and Carlos Petterson scored four each. Muneshwer and Ron Motilall scored three points each while Omar Britton Grant recorded 2½ points.
Nine seniors and 13 junior players participated in the tournament which consisted of seven rounds. (Kizan Brumell)