Mars delivers endgame masterclass to stay perfect

Sep 10, 2026 Sports

– Mechanical engineer moves to 4/4 after ending Sandiford’s unbeaten run

(Kaieteur News) – The battle of perfect records lived up to its billing on Monday night, as returning national player and mechanical engineer Davion Mars defeated national player and sports coach Keron Sandiford to remain the only player with a perfect score after four rounds of the Pegasus Weekly Chess League.

Both players entered the highly anticipated encounter on 3/3, knowing that something had to give.

For much of the game, however, very little separated them.

Playing with the white pieces, Mars entered an Exchange Variation of the French Defence against Sandiford. The position remained remarkably balanced as the game progressed, with neither player able to establish a decisive advantage.

That changed deep into the endgame.

Mars delivers endgame masterclass to stay perfect

Action in the contest between Davion Mars (left) and national player and sports coach Keron Sandiford.

On move 39, Sandiford agreed to what appeared to be a routine exchange of rooks, simplifying the position into a pawn ending.

It proved to be the moment Mars had been waiting for.

Deeper post-game analysis showed that the exchange transformed the previously balanced position into a winning pawn ending for Mars, whose advantage climbed to approximately +4.9.

Mars needed only four more moves to demonstrate the point before Sandiford resigned.

The victory moved Mars to a perfect 4/4, one full point clear of the field with three rounds remaining.

Mars, however, was still examining what he could have done better.

“Annoyed by the missing 37.Rxf7, which was winning on the spot, but I am satisfied with the fact that at no point in the game Black had any initiative,” Mars said during the post-game analysis.

It was also revealed afterward that both players had prepared diligently for the encounter, adding another layer to a match that had been building since both emerged from Round Three with perfect records.

McKay holds third as Reece, Oyeyipo climb

While the top-board showdown commanded much of the attention, several other results reshaped the standings.

Artist and business owner Ryan Oniel McKay defeated WCM Jessica Callender, moving to 3 points and retaining third place behind Mars and Sandiford.

Odinnie Nehezie Reece climbed one position into fourth after defeating the tournament’s youngest player, Sachin Beharry. Reece now sits on 2.5 points.

Oluwadare Oyeyipo also moved up one position after defeating Martin Poon, joining Reece on 2.5 points and occupying fifth place.

Veteran player and banker Raymond Sookdeo moved two positions to seventh after receiving a forfeit win, while entrepreneur Jaden Taylor continued his climb with victory over Owen Mickle, moving two places into eighth.

Annastaysha Marcano also registered her first point of the season following a forfeit win over Juliana Persaud.

After four rounds, Mars leads on 4 points, followed by Sandiford and McKay on 3. Reece and Oyeyipo sit on 2.5, while Callender, Sookdeo and Taylor each have 2 points.

League pauses for Chess Olympiad

With three rounds remaining, the Pegasus Weekly Chess League will now pause until October 5, as organiser FM Anthony Drayton and two League participants prepare to represent Guyana at the Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan.

The Olympiad runs from September 14–29, after which the League will return for the closing three rounds of its inaugural season.

Round Four therefore leaves the championship with a clear target at the top.

Four games played. Four victories. And, for now, Davion Mars remains perfect.

The Pegasus Weekly Chess League is organized by Drayton’s Chess Club in partnership with Pegasus Chess Club and the Guyana Chess Federation.

For standings, results and League updates, follow Drayton’s Chess Club on Facebook.

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Chess Olympiad, MARS, Pegasus Weekly Chess League

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