–Oyeyipo wins dramatic 35-move contest, Sandiford claims second on tiebreak
Davion Mars became the first champion of the Pegasus Weekly Chess League after completing the inaugural seven-round season with six points, while Keron Sandiford and Oluwadare Oyeyipo fought their way onto the podium following an eventful final round at the Pegasus Hotel on Monday night.
Mars had already secured the championship in Round Six, establishing an unbeatable 1.5-point advantage over the chasing players. His early success meant the main focus of the final evening shifted to the battle for second and third places.
Sandiford, Oyeyipo and Jaden Taylor entered the seventh round level on four points, leaving all three with an opportunity to finish among the top performers.
Sandiford made his intentions clear with a convincing victory over Martin Poon. The chess coach, who recently represented Guyana at the Chess Olympiad, used his positional understanding and preparation to secure the point and finish his campaign on five.
However, the final standings remained undecided as Oyeyipo and Taylor were involved in a tense encounter that produced several changes in momentum.
Oyeyipo appeared firmly in control during the opening stages after a pawn recapture created a tactical pin, giving him a significant advantage.
An evaluation of approximately +5 by move 14 reflected the strength of his position, as he collected several pawns and appeared on course for victory.
But Taylor found a way back into the contest when Oyeyipo lost a bishop, temporarily putting his advantage under pressure.
The match then took another turn when Taylor miscalculated, allowing Oyeyipo to regain the lost bishop.
That mistake proved decisive.
Armed with an extra piece and a strong pawn majority, Oyeyipo steadily converted his advantage until Taylor resigned on move 35.
The victory carried Oyeyipo to five points, matching Sandiford’s final tally. However, Sandiford finished ahead on tiebreak, securing the runner-up position and leaving Oyeyipo third.
While the final-round drama captured attention, Mars remained the standout performer across the season.
His six-point finish ensured he became the first player to lift the Pegasus Weekly Chess League title, setting the early benchmark for future editions of the competition.
The league also recognised emerging talent, with Sachin Beharry receiving the Best Newcomer award.
Final standings and awards
Champion: Davion Mars — 6 points
Second: Keron Sandiford — 5 points
Third: Oluwadare Oyeyipo — 5 points
Best Newcomer: Sachin Beharry
Chess players will not have to wait long for another opportunity to compete, with the second season scheduled to begin on Monday, November 2.
The competition will continue at the Pegasus Hotel in Georgetown, maintaining its weekly Monday evening schedule.
Organised by Drayton’s Chess Club in collaboration with the Pegasus Chess Club and the Guyana Chess Federation, the league is designed to offer regular competitive opportunities to players.
Organisers will continue sharing tournament updates, results and round-by-round coverage through the Drayton’s Chess Club Facebook page.
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