CM Drayton wins Mike’s Pharmacy’s Jubilee chess tourney

By Avenash Ramzan

Candidate Master Anthony Drayton created history at the weekend by becoming the first person to win the inaugural Mike’s Pharmacy chess tournament at the National Resource Centre, Woolford Avenue.

The one day rapid chess competition was organised by the Guyana Chess Federation and sponsored exclusively by Mike’s Pharmacy to coincide with Guyana’s 50^th Independence anniversary.

The seven-round Swiss system tournament, which had a time limit of 15 minutes per player, saw Drayton finishing with 6.5 points, garnered from six victories and a drawn encounter against national senior champion Wendell Meusa.

Meusa, who was recently granted Candidate Master status after participating in the FIDE Sub-Zonal tournament in Barbados, also played unbeaten, earning six points to finish in second spot. Meusa chalked up five wins and two draws, the other being against Calvin Giddings.

Candidate Master Ronuel Greenidge finished with five points to take third sport, while Candidate Master Maria Thomas, Davion Mars, Ryan Goliah and Ghansham Allijohn all finished with four points to occupy joint fourth position.

Giddings managed 3.5 points, followed by Roberto Neto, Yolander Persaud and Jessica Callender on three apiece, Kristoff Persaud two and Jayden Taylor in the cellar position on a solitary point.

The top players were all presented with trophies and medals, compliments of Mike’s Pharmacy, a first time sponsor of chess. Representative Colin Europe said the business establishment was pleased to support the Guyana Chess Federation and its programme, especially since the game provides a great opportunity for young people to be meaningfully engaged.

President of the Guyana Chess Federation, Irshad Mohamed, was high in praise of Lakeram “Mike” Singh, the proprietor of Mike’s Pharmacy, for his willingness to sponsor the tournament at short notice.

Mohamed mentioned at a time when sponsorship is hard to come by, Mike’s Pharmacy has demonstrated its commitment to sport, and the Federation and players are more than happy to welcome the entity as part of the chess family.

CAPTION: The top performers of the Mike’s Pharmacy chess tournament pose with representative of the company, Colin Europe (back row, centre)