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GCF thumping its ‘Chess’ after commendable year
By Michael Benjamin
Despite its inability to procure funding from the gates and coupled with stringent financial demands to promote the sport, executives of the Guyana Chess Federation, under the leadership of President Irshad Mohamed, are preening their feathers after completing a highly successful 2014. 
Also the Tournament Director, Mohamed, was elected to the helm when affiliates convened at the Olympic House, High Street, Kingston for their Annual General Meeting February 9 last year, this after the incumbent, Shiv Nandalall, declined nomination for another term citing an encumbered work schedule.
The other executive members are Ronuel Greenidge (Secretary) and George Vaughn (Treasurer) while the Committee Members are Maria Thomas, Krishnandan Ragunandan and Ryan Singh.
Mohamed accepted the post armed with a working knowledge of the intricacies of management and had outlined his plans which included a robust approach to the effective organizing of school programmes and the establishment of a new breed of players at the junior level.
Senior National Champion, Wendell Meusa, was subsequently tipped as the national trainer, with a responsibility to spearhead the school project. Mr. Mohamed’s first major undertaking was the 41st Chess Olympiad in Norway August 1-15.
Guyana did field a competent team but experienced a major setback after former Junior and Senior Champion, Taffin Khan, was denied the relevant visa, this after his name checked out to be similar to that of an international terrorist. With limited time to fully check out the authenticity (or falsehood thereof) the authorities played it safe and Khan, and Guyana suffered.
Guyana did not win the championships but the team procured valuable international experience which Mr. Mohamed said will stand them in good stead for future tournaments of that ilk. Nevertheless, the Guyanese received some consolation after Ronuel Greenidge and Anthony Drayton exited the tournament with new and improved rankings coupled with designations of Candidate Masters.
There were also several domestic tournaments which spoke highly of Mr. Mohamed’s leadership ability but the one that truly distinguished him was the Umada Cup 2014 Chess Championships at the Sleep Inn Hotel, Brickdam, Stabroek.
Several countries participated in the championships and fortunes swayed during the early days with several Guyanese players surging ahead at various stages of the championships. These included former national champion, Kriskal Persaud, Wendell Meusa and Anthony Drayton among others.
However, when the smoke had cleared Trinidadians, Ryan Harper and Esan Wiltshire amassed 7 and 8 points to cart off the honours in the Open and Challengers’ Cup Category. CM Anthony Drayton did commendably well and joined Jamaican, WIM Deborah Carter, to seal off the final podium spot and the US$750 prize; both amassed 6 ½ points.
This tournament enabled the officials of the GCF to close off the preceding year with a bang. Already, the members of the organizing committee are putting together the programme for this year and Mr. Mohamed has hinted at continued development.
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