Two significant chess tournaments begin on Saturday
chess champion. Eight players have been shortlisted for participation. The favourites, in this writer’s estimation, are:
1. Wendell Meusa national champion.
2. Anthony Drayton - winner of the National Chess Qualifier and the 2017 Caribbean Chess Cup champion.
3. Taffin Khan - Guyana’s most successful participant at the 2016 Chess Olympiad. Other players to watch are: 1. Ronuel Greenidge - theoretically sound and capable of creating an upset as he did during the National Qualifier, though he did not do well at the 2016 Chess Olympiad
2. Maria Varona-Thomas expected to lead the Guyana women’s chess team to the 2018 Chess Olympiad. A strong player, she is often in time trouble at crucial points of the game
3. Glenford Corlette - a dangerous player who possesses the capability of upsetting any of the favourites. He plays safely and is not known to take chances
4. Saeed Ali - a hopeful player who emerged from the junior ranks. His strength is uncertain, but he qualified for the National Championship
5. Loris Nathoo - reliable under pressure; experiences time trouble; has a way of beating back the clock; plays whenever he can spare the time; short of practice; relies on former knowledge of chess.
The Berlin tournament will witness the emergence of a new world championship contender. This writer believes Levon Aronian will excel at the Candidates Chess Tournament. - current