Ali leads GCF’s Junior Chess Qualifiers

By Avenash Ramzan

Fresh off earning her Women’s Candidate Master (WCM) at the 42^nd Chess Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaijan, young Sheriffa Ali has taken the lead in the Guyana Chess Federation’s (GCF) national Junior Chess Qualifiers.

At the completion of three rounds last weekend at the National Resource Centre, Woolford Avenue, Georgetown, Ali has a flawless record, winning all three games.

She leads the table with the maximum three points, having defeated Shivranie Persaud, Jaden Taylor and John Wong.

Saeed Ali and Roberto Neto share the second spot with 2.5 points each, garnered from two wins and a draw each, while Wong, Taylor, Jessica Callender, Joshua Gopaul, Ghasham Allijohn and Akili Theophile are locked on two points apiece.

Seven players- Asiyah Bacchus, Aravinda Singh, Aleem Baseer, Nellisha Johnson, Waveney Johnson, Kristoff Persaud and Anthony Johnson- are tied on a solitary point, while Areefa Budhu and Shivranie Persaud share the cellar position, yet to record a point.

Meanwhile, in the senior tournament being played alongside the Junior Qualifiers, top players Wendell Muesa and Anthony Drayton are in the lead after two rounds, being the only players to win both games.

They are followed by Shazeeda Rahim, Taffin Khan, Calvin Giddings and Davion Mars on a point each, and Chino Chung, who is yet to get off the mark. The senior championship is a single round-robin format.

Games will continue this Saturday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall from 11:00h.

Cover photo caption: Sheriffa Ali