JUNIOR chess players Anthony Drayton and Cecil Cox have proved their skills at strategy against two FIDE-rated players in the Caribbean Container INC. (CCI)-sponsored FIDE Rating Tournament now under way at Olympic House and the Ocean Spray Hotel respectively. Drayton drew his match with FIDE-rated player Shiv Nandalall (1715) while Cox defeated Ryan Singh (1456) when the tournament began last Sunday.
However, senior national champion Taffin Khan (1809) and his father David (1386) are jointly leading the tournament so far after three rounds.
Six junior participants drawn from the 2011 National Junior Championship are up against four rated seniors to acquire FIDE (World Chess Federation) ratings.
Junior players Drayton, Cox, Ron Motilall, Haifeng Su, Sham and Kana Khan are locked in a nine-round competition along with senior players Taffin Khan (1809), Nandalall (1715), Ryan Singh (1456) and David Khan (1386).
The points standings after three rounds read: Taffin and David Khan three points each, Anthony Drayton (2½), Cecil Cox two points, Shiv Nandalall (1½), while the remaining five players are on one point each or less.
The junior participants are required to score at least one point each from a FIDE-rated or non-FIDE rated player in the single round robin event to earn a rating.
In tournament chess one point is given for a win, half a point for a draw and zero point for a loss. The ratings are an indication of a chess player’s strength and international chess grandmasters are rated at 2500 and over.
The fourth round starts tomorrow at the Ocean Spray Hotel from 18:15hrs and the match-ups are Haifeng Su versus Taffin Khan, Drayton versus Motilall, David Khan versus Kana Khan, Cox versus Sham Khan and Singh versus Nandalall.