Broadening the awareness of the sport

Jan 08, 2013 Sports

Chess Executives intensifies focus on rural communities this year

While administrators of the more high profiled disciplines bemoan the absence of corporate and other funding towards the effective promotion of their respective disciplines and by extension, their affiliates, administrators of the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) have worked assiduously over the past year to improve the lot of their charges. Now, as the year begins, and with the development of the sport foremost in their minds, those executives plan to intensify their efforts, focusing on programmes and tournaments in the rural communities.

GCF President Shiv Nandalall (left) collects sponsorship from Trophy Stall’s Ramesh Sunich during last year.

A wise man once advocated that the happiest people are not those who have everything but who make everything of what they have. And so it was that the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) has adhered to this principle over the just concluded year and despite its inability to accrue gate receipts, has made credible strides.
The GCF is currently headed by businessman, Shiv Nandalall, who took over the reins from Errol Tiwari after the latter individual resigned due to ill health. At the time of his ascendency, Mr. Nandalall, a FIDE rated player, was fortunate to have inherited an entity blessed with players of his ilk the likes of National Champion, Taffin Khan, David Khan, Ryan Singh, Loris Nathoo, and Ranuel Greenidge. Several other players have also earned partial FIDA ratings including Anthony Drayton and Maria Thomas. These feats may seem inconsequential to the uninitiated but the chess administrators will experience a sense of pride and satisfaction after examining the fortunes of the sport over the year and making comparisons of about two years ago.
The unselfish input of the sponsors cannot be ignored and kudus are in order for beverage giants, Demerara Distillers Ltd, an ever present entity in the successful promotions of the GCF tournaments. Proprietor of Trophy Stall, Ramesh Sunich, also supported the executives’ drive to improve the fortunes of the sport with valuable funds as had Loris Nathoo, a frontline player and businessmen whose entity, The Red Cherry, sponsored the ladder tournament where players won more than five million dollars in gifts and cash prizes.
Banks DIH Ltd was also on board and sponsored a one day Junior Rapid Chess tournament in Bartica last July under the Malta Supreme label. Administrators continued working towards the development of the young players and travelled to Linden for a one day tournament shortly before venturing over at the West Coast Demerara Secondary School, Pouderoyen for another junior tournament. .
Local players also enjoyed international competition after National Senior Chess Champion, Taffin Khan and a team of competent players, including proficient senior player, Maria Thomas and her junior counterpart, Anthony Drayton, participated in the 3rd Umada Cup chess tournament in Paramaribo, Suriname, October 3 last. The two tiered tournament consisted of the Challenger and Open categories and both segments were contested over 9 rounds with the local trio only contesting for honours in the Challenger Cup.
Another noteworthy feat was the staging of competitions in rural communities with a championship late last year in Berbice. The Federation also planned a one day tournament in Linden in March that was well received by those affiliates.
Meanwhile, President, Shiv Nandalall said that his executives plan to continue the developmental works over the coming months. He pointed out that they had held a workshop in July that introduced interested persons to the vagaries of the sport. Mr. Nandalall said that his executives aim to continue in this vein even as they implement innovative means of enhancing the fortunes of the players. He said that he plans to concentrate on tournaments in the rural communities. “2012 was good but we plan to make 2013 even better,” exhorted Mr. Nandalall.