The Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) I-CEE-sponsored Grand Prix 2 Chess Tournament got underway last weekend at the School of the Nations, setting the stage for a dramatic final weekend of play. After four intense rounds of classical-style competition, Keron Sandiford has established a strong early lead in the Open Category, while Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Aditi Joshi heads the Female Category.
In the Open Category, which features 30 players, Sandiford extended his winning streak midway through the tournament with a convincing victory over Gilbert Williams last Sunday. Sandiford dominated the match with two unstoppable centre pawns that posed a major threat, forcing Williams to resign.
Occupying the second and third positions are FIDE Masters (FMs) Anthony Drayton and newcomer Rawle Allicock, who are tied on 3.5 points. Their Fourth-Round encounter was fiercely contested, with both players mobilising their rooks, pawns, and queens in an all-out assault on each other’s king. Facing significant material loss and the prospect of defeat, Drayton fought back tenaciously, activating his queen and rooks to threaten checkmate. In a dramatic twist, he offered Allicock a draw by perpetual check, which was accepted after just over 40 moves.
Former Junior Champion Joshua Gopaul defeated reigning Junior Champion Kyle Couchman in Round Two after a marathon battle. Gopaul gained a decisive advantage as his stronger rook overpowered Couchman’s bishop in an exciting endgame. Despite stubborn resistance, Couchman eventually succumbed after Gopaul traded his rook for the bishop and promoted a new queen to deliver checkmate.
In the same round, Sachin Pitamber suffered a surprise defeat to Prince Dunn. Dunn’s passed pawn—poised for promotion—sealed the win on move 46, leaving Pitamber with no viable options.
Close contenders on three points each include Couchman, Gopaul, Candidate Master (CM) Pitamber, Leslie Campbell, and Micaiah Enoe. Rounding off the top ten are Shiv Nandalall and Kim Shing Chong, both on 2.5 points.
On the distaff side, reigning Women’s Champion WCM Aditi Joshi defeated three of her opponents and drew with rising talent Kataleya Sam. Joshi also overcame Ciel Clement, her fourth opponent on Sunday, in a gruelling endgame featuring both kings and a bishop apiece battling for control of the remaining pawns. With two extra pawns, Joshi consolidated her position, regained a dominating queen, and secured a winning advantage. Clement resigned on move 43.
In the Female Category, which has 17 participants, Joshi leads with 3.5 points but faces stiff competition from young star Sam, who secured an impressive draw against her and sits second on three points. Treskolé Archibald and Ciel Clement also share three points. WCMs Jessica Callendar and Sasha Shariff are tied on 2.5 points, alongside Italy Ton-Chung. Maliha Rajkumar, Parnita Kishun, Chelsea Harrison, and Saura Ruplall follow with two points each.
The tournament, which carries a total cash prize of $100,000, concludes this coming weekend. The remaining four rounds will take place on Saturday, 29 November, and Sunday, 30 November, at the School of the Nations. The top eight boards in the Open Category and top four in the Female Category are being live-streamed on lichess.org by John Lee, FIDE Arbiter and Technical Director of the GCF. Full results and pairings are available on Chess-results.com.
The Guyana Chess Federation extends sincere thanks to its dedicated sponsor, I-CEE, for its continued support of chess development in Guyana, and to the School of the Nations for providing the venue.
