GUYANA for the first time sent a National Junior Team to the recently concluded 7th CARIFTA Chess Championships held in Paramaribo, Suriname from March 29 to April 3.

This event was strictly for junior chess players and saw participants from Suriname (SUR), Barbados (BAR), Jamaica (JAM), Aruba (ARU), Guyana (GUY), Bermuda (BER) and South Africa (RSA).

Representing Guyana were Ronan Lee (U-12 Absolute), Chelsea Juma (U-14 Women), Ethan Lee, Ghansham Allijohn & Jaden Taylor (U-16 Absolute), Sasha Shariff (U-16 Women), Nellisha Johnson (U-20 Women) and Joshua Gopaul (U-20 Absolute).

Guyana were the second smallest contingent with only 8 chess players while hosts Suriname had 104 participants, Barbados 48 and Jamaica 32.

The players were accompanied by three parents Jewel Jardin, Marcia Lee and John Lee who acted as team manager. The team was endorsed by the Guyana Chess Federation president James Bond and planning of the trip was assisted by GCF’s Irshad Mohammed VP Tournaments.

With 21 points, Guyana finished in 6th position ahead of Bermuda and South Africa. However, we finished with better averages per round than Aruba and Suriname – 3 points per round to Suriname 1 – 2 points per round.

The performance ratings for all players are Nellisha Johnson 1037, Joshua Gopaul 1219, Chelsea Juma 928, Ronnie Lee 959, Sasha Shariff 802, Ghansham Allijohn 1158, Jaden Taylor 1095 and Ethan Lee 1193. These players will be added to Guyana’s international list of rated players by June month end.

Special thanks go to National Sports Commission’s Gervy C. Harry, Guyana Chess Federation, Ricardos Dos Ramos and the Suriname Chess Federation, Loris Nathoo of Red Cherry, parents and guardians and National coach Wendell Meusa.

Final Standings

U-12 Absolute:

Ronan Lee – 2.5 points from 7 games at 39th position from 53 players.

U-14 Women

Chelsea Juma – 1.5 points from 7 games .Started ranked 13 and finished in 16th position from 17 players.

U-16 Absolute

Ethan Lee – 3.5 points from 7 games. Started ranked at 39 and finished at 28 from 55 players.

Sasha Shariff – 2 points from 7 games. Started ranked at 51 and finished at 51 from 55 players.

Jaden Taylor – 3 points from 7 games. Started ranked at 53 and finished at 33 from 55 players.

Ghansham Allijohn – 3.5 points from 7 games. Started ranked at 31 and finished at 30 from 55 players.

U-20 Women

Nellisha Johnson – 2.5 points from 7 games. Started ranked at 24 and finished at  20 from 26 players.

U-20 Open

Joshua Gopaul – 2.5 points from 7 games. Started ranked at 25 and finished at 22 from 26 players.

Total Players: 8

Total Rounds: 7

Total Team Points: 21 points

Total Games Played 56