Joshua Gopaul is one to watch in local chess
One of the things that first attracted me to chess is that it brings you into contact with intelligent, civilized people – men of the stature of Garry Kasparov, the former world champion, who was my part-time coach. – Magnus Carlsen of time. President Granger understands chess. Pitifully, some others don’t. Granger knows the rewards that will, and can, accrue from immersing oneself in the ancient game. After all, he used to play competitively and was responsible for the disciplined forces traversing the game. One soldier, Staff Sergeant John Macedo, represented Guyana at the 1980 Chess Olympiad in Malta.
Today, the action continues at the National Aquatic Centre where Guyana’s finest chess players would be contesting the 2018 National Senior Qualifier Tournament which began yesterday. Already senior players Loris Nathoo and Shiv Nandalall have indicated to me they will be participating. If Macedo is not out of the jurisdiction, he will also participate. The top eight finishers would contest the national chess championship later in the year.
Internationally, the elite 13-round 2018 Tata Steel Chess Tournament concludes today in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands. At the end of the 10th round, a three-way tie was re-established among Anish Giri, Magnus Carlsen and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov. The trio is followed by Vladimir Kramnik and Vishy Anand. For the remaining three games to be played, a notable game to watch is the Carlsen-Mamedyarov encounter.