By Travis Seymour
In round 7 of the CARICOM Classic Chess Tournament, Fide Master Anthony Drayton and Candidate Master Taffin Khan showcased their skills to secure victories against their opponents from the Cayman Islands.
With these impressive wins, Guyana remains in contention for a medal.
Playing with the white pieces, Taffin Khan outmaneuvered Clifford Shaw to claim a comfortable victory, while Anthony Drayton triumphed over Christopher Young with his black pieces.
Additionally, Shazeeda Rahim secured a win in her match against Zara Majid, while Jessica Callender managed to secure a draw against Laia Swaminathan.
Despite a strong effort from the local junior team, they went down 3-1 to Barbados, with Kyle Coachman and Sasha Shariff earning draws to contribute one point.
In earlier rounds, Drayton and Khan also secured wins in round 5 against the Bahamas, helping Guyana secure a 2 ½ to 1 ½ point victory. Rahim earned a draw, while Callender faced the only loss of the round.
However, the junior team faced tough challenges in subsequent rounds, losing to Suriname and the Bahamas.
Meanwhile, the senior team settled for a 2-2 draw against Barbados in round 6, with Khan and Drayton emerging victorious in their matches against Emar Edwards and FIDE Master Phillip Corbin, respectively.
With these strong performances, Guyana’s chess team continues to demonstrate their prowess on the international stage, maintaining their competitive edge in the CARICOM Classic Chess Tournament.