THE Ready Mix Open Qualification Chess Tournament for the Guyana Chess Federation National Championship served off over the weekend at School of the Nations auditorium.
The national chess qualification champions sees more than 40 players battling over seven rounds of intense action to earn the right to face the reigning national champion Taffin Khan.

The Guyana Chess Federation qualification tournament will see nine players emerging out of the competition.
Eight players are tied in the opening rounds after outright wins.
Fide Master Anthony Drayton, Loris Nathoo, Sachin Pitamber, Aditi Joshi, Rolex Alexander, Kyle Couchman, Ethan Lee and Keron Sandiford had good outings in the opening rounds to all claim two wins each.

FIDE Master Drayton got the better of Ciel Desiree in Round One and Ricardo Narine in Round Two, Kyle coachman beat Gilbert Williams and Angelica Assing.
Also in the winner circle after their unbeaten run was Loris Nathoo who stopped Rashad Hussain and Jeremy Cole.

Ethan Lee victims were Joshua DaSilva and Rai Sharma while Keron Sandiford defeated Matthew Singh and Javier Davenand Aditi Joshi overcame Justino Dasilva and Alek Singh.
Khan successfully defended his title last year during a fast-paced playoff that lasted less than one hour with main challenger Loris Nathoo.

On Saturday the 18th will see the next two rounds followed by Rounds Five and Six on Sunday the 19th with the final round set for Sunday, May 26 at School of the Nations.