Local chess players experiencing mixed fortunes in Sub-Zonal Tournament in Barbados

Apr 30, 2016 Sports

Several Guyanese chess players recently left these shores and are engaged in fierce competition in the Sub-Zonal 2.3.5 Chess Tournament currently underway in Bridgetown, Barbados.
Those players are National Champion, Wendell Meusa, rating at 1947, Taffin Khan (1823), Maria Thomas, Jessica Clementson and Yolander Persaud. Kaieteur Sport spoke with Meusa and he said that the players were undergoing fluctuating fortunes. He said that Khan played with the white pieces against Candidate Master, Trinidadian, Adrian Atwell Winter (2170) and was eventually forced to settle for a draw after a fiercely competed duel.
Meusa opposed his arch rival, Barbadian Fide Master, Martyn Del Castilho (2238), and that game also ended in a draw. Both players are former Barbados Junior National Champions and according to Meusa, who played the Black pieces, he employed a solid Scandinavian Defence but his opponent’s counteracting ploy forced him to accept a draw being a pawn up but with opposite color bishops.
In the women category, top Guyanese female player, Maria Thomas, triumphed over Barbadian, Segan Sandiford, after employing aggressive and tactical chess combinations. Jessica Clementson then lost to T&T Women Candidate Master (WCM), Aditi Soondarsingh, while Yolander Persaud, who fought fiercely with the Black pieces against WCM Katrina Blackman, eventually blundered and gave up her advantage before eventually resigning. Julia Clementson also lost after engaging Trinidadian WCM, Gabriella Johnson.
In second round action, Meusa was scheduled to oppose Khan while Maria Thomas was slated against Women International Master (WIM), Danitza Marccaini Vazquez. Jessica Clementson was matched against Paula Maria De Mey of Aruba. The other two Guyanese players, Julia Clementson and Yolander Persaud were scheduled to face off with Barbadians, Segan Sandiford and Gabriella Cumberbatch, respectively.