CANDIDATE Master Wendell Meusa and teenager Pooja Lam finished as the respective champions of the GAICO National Open Chess Championship and the KFC/Guyana-sponsored Women’s Nationals which concluded on Sunday at the Guyana National Stadium.

Former champion Meusa was able to hold off defending champion, CM Taffin Khan, in the final three rounds of the nine-round open championships, which left him on eight points, just half a point ahead of Khan.

Meusa’s only defeat came during the sixth round against Roberto Neto, who finished fifth overall.

FIDE Master Anthony Drayton, who won the Qualifiers, finished third with 6.5 points, while Frankie Farley finished fourth on five points.

Loris Nathoo (4.5 points), Ethan Lee (four points) and Rai Sharma (three points) ended in the sixth, seventh and eighth positions respectively.

Meanwhile, 14-year-old Lam took the lead in Round Seven when she defeated another front-runner Nellisha Johnson and she held on to her lead to finish unbeaten with eight points from nine rounds.

Her only flaws were two draws: one against former women’s champion, Sasha Shariff, and another against Jessica Callender, who won the qualifying tournament.

Shariff finished the tournament in second place on seven points, while Johnson and Callender both finished on six points, but due to a direct encounter tie-break, Johnson finished third.

Twelve-year-old Anaya Lall, who won four games and drew one to finish on 4.5 points, placed fifth.

Maliha Rajkumar and Adia Alphonso finished with 4 and 3.5 points respectively, while Waveney Johnson and Angel Rahim finished on three points each.

According to information from the Guyana Chess Federation, players who were victorious in their respective tournaments will be rewarded at an official upcoming award ceremony, hosted by the Guyana Chess Federation.

The Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) wishes “to congratulate the winners and to thank all participants who played diligently as well as FIDE arbiters John Lee and Anand Raghunauth, whose tireless work made these tournaments successful.

“The GCF also wishes to thank the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, the National Sports Commission and the management of the Guyana National Stadium. Special thanks to KFC Guyana and GAICO Construction for their sponsorships.”