Junior Chess team off to Pan-Am Youth Championship in Florida

An eight-member team of top junior chess players attached to the Guyana Chess Federation is representing Guyana in the ongoing Pan American Youth Championships XXXIV in Orlando, Florida, USA.

The players will be competing in the Under-10 to Under-16 Open and Girls categories.

Players such as Kyle Couchman (Under-16), Aditi Joshi (Under-14), and Kataleya Sam (Under-12), who earned a Bronze medal at the XIV CAC Youth Chess Festival last year, have already competed internationally and will have the chance to improve their performances.

Young Sachin Pitamber (Under-14), who is on the Olympiad team later this year, is also a player who can give Guyana its first medal at these games. He has had strong finishes in tournaments throughout the year with the national Under-14 and Under-16 titles in his cabinet.

He has secured major victories over Guyana top chess players and has a passion and talent for the game.

Couchman will be looking to improve his sixth place finish in his category in the CAC youth chess festival from last year utilizing the experience and confidence he has acquired.

Also representing in the tournament are Maliha Rajkumar (Under-16 Girls), Jermey Cole (Under-12 Open), Vir Narine (Under-10 Open) and Saura Rooplall (Under-10 Girls).

The young players are being accompanied by their parents.

Anand Raghunauth, President of the Guyana Chess Federation, was upbeat about the team’s participation and the exposure for young Guyanese players on the international chess circuit.

“I think this is the strongest junior team by rating and skill to have participated in an international championship. There are some players who are ranked in the top five for women and males in the country”, he said.

The United States Chess Federation has organised the event in partnership with the Confederation of Chess for the Americas, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and the Rosen Shingle Creek playing venue.