Latest update September 24th, 2026 10:31 AM
Wendell Meusa dethrones National Chess champion, Kriskal Khan
– Cecil Cox is one win away for the junior title
Wendell Meusa (left) and Kriskal Persaud.
The National Chess Championships is still two rounds away from completion but Wendell Meusa has already distinguished himself as the best player of the lot, dethroning Berbician Kriskal Persaud from his prestigious perch.
When the tournament resumed over the past weekend, Meusa needed just three wins to concretize his standing. He accomplished the feat by firstly disposing of Learie Webster in round nine and followed this win up with a decisive victory over Kriskal Persaud for the second time in the tournament.
Omar Shariff presented a stiff challenge for the shrewd Meusa in their Sunday encounter. At that time Meusa was merely one win shy of dethroning Persaud. Shariff played a brilliant game but was unable to convert a win due to time pressure. He eventually had to settle for a draw. Meusa then went on to defeat Taffin Khan to formalize his standing.
Khan then compensated for that defeat when he outplayed Ronuel Greenidge while Chino Chung played the game of his life and defeated Omar Shariff. Persaud rebounded from his loss to Meusa to squeeze past Brian Thompson. In the next round Greenidge defeated Learie Webster while Shariff defeated Thompson. Chung then conceded a game to Khan.
The action continued on Sunday when Persaud defeated Webster and Khan emulated this feat over Thompson. After dishing out an earlier drubbing to Persaud, Greenidge returned to replicate the feat in their second encounter. Webster then defeated Shariff moments before Thompson got the better of Chung. The final points standing after twelve rounds: Wendell Meusa (11 1/2), Taffin Khan (8), Ronuel Greenidge (7), Kriskal Persaud (6), Omar Shariff (5), Learie Webster (4), Brian Thompson (3 1/2) and Chino Chung (2)
Meanwhile, Cecil Cox turned in a masterful display and is currently one win away from capturing the junior crown after amassing 10 points, two ahead his nearest rivals with just two rounds to go. This versatile player had only managed to qualify in the eighth position during the qualification rounds.
He has played unbeaten in the second half of the tournament and is almost assured of procuring top honours. His closest competition, Sham Khan and Saeed Ali are on eight points apiece. The remaining points standing after twelve rounds reads: Crystal Khan (7), Rashad Hussain (5), Kana Khan (41/2), Raan Motilall (31/2) while Stanley Ming Jr. withdrew from the tournament. He has since cited other pressing commitments.
The final two rounds of the tournament will be played this Saturday at the Ocean Spray Hotel from 10:30hrs.
The junior category is sponsored exclusively by the Ramgopal Family while the senior category is sponsored by Neal and Massy Group of Companies, Trophy Stall of the Bourda Market, DDL, Ocean Spray Hotel and the Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sports.
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