Suriname retain title with Gold medal performance

Nov 22, 2010 Sports

Guyana settle for Silver… again

By Sean Devers
Inside a closed room at the Ocean View Hotel and without the distraction of vociferous spectators like the other Inter Guiana Games (IGG) events in this year’s championship in Guyana, Chess powerhouse Suriname continued their dominance by retaining their title with victories against the hosts and French Guiana.

Unbeaten Guyanese Suhai Feng (left) is in deep concentration as he ponders a move against French Guyana’s Norman Tjon Sintja during yesterday’s action at the Ocean View Hotel.

The Curtains came down on the Chess tournament in this year’s event yesterday afternoon with Guyana beating their French counterparts after they had lost to the Dutch speaking Surinamese 2 and a half points to one point on Saturday evening.
Guyana’s victory yesterday ensured that like last year, the home team, the only English Speaking country in South America, again finished as runner-up despite some excellent play from 15-year-old Suhai Feng.
The teenager who resides in Kitty and attends the North Georgetown Secondary School finished unbeaten after drawing with his Suriname opponent on Saturday and defeating his French Guiana rival yesterday.
The Suriname 5-member Chess team, probably inspired by the presence in Guyana of their President Desi Bouterse, defeated French Guiana on the opening day -Friday- by three and a half points to half of a point to condemn the French speaking South Americans to the cellar position for the second consecutive year in the Championships.
A member of the Suriname contingent said retaining their title was very pleasing and emphasized that the sport of Chess is growing in the neighbouring county and said that apart from skill, the superb concentration level of the young players were reasons why Suriname consistently do well at this level.
Guyana’s Sports Ministry and Sports Minister Dr Frank Anthony in particular has been aiding in the revival of Chess in Guyana by trying to take the game to schools and having his Ministry organize several Chess competitions locally.
With more competitions, especially among females and the youth, it is hoped that the interest for and the standard of Chess will improve as Guyana aim to go one place better by winning Gold next. Back to back Silver Medals is not too bad though.