Nicholas Zhang and Emma John delivered stellar performances on January 26, rising as the top players of the Readymix Concrete-sponsored National Under-14 Chess Tournament at School of the Nations.
The tournament, hosted by the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF), saw intense competition among 71 junior chess players- 43 boys and 28 girls competing in the seven rounds of rapid chess.
The time control for each game was 20 minutes, with a five-second increment added to the clock after the first move, demanding sharp tactical play and endurance.
Zhang showcased his dominance within the Open division, scoring 6½ points to secure the championship title.
The young player has been on the chess scene for several years, winning many awards, but this is the first time he has secured a championship title.
Zhang claimed easy victories over his opponents with his half point resulting from a draw with young Julian Mohabir.
Alek Ubaldo-Singh, a strong contender for the title, claimed second with six points after losing his game to Zhang. Mohabir finished third with 5½ points after losing to Ubaldo-Singh and drawing with Zhang.
Emma John won the Girls Under 14 Championship Title in the Girls division.
Emma secured 6½ points after she decimated six of her opponents. Her last game with Under-12 Champion Kataleya Sam ended in a draw.
Saura Ruplall followed behind in second place with six points with her only loss to John, while Lusianna Farlot secured third with 5½ points. Farlot lost to John and drew with Sam.
Special trophy prizes were awarded to the Best Under-12 players in both the Open and Girls divisions. 2025 Under-12 champions Abel Fernandez and Kataleya Sam took home these awards.
The Best Under-10 Player prizes went to Aiden Tinnie and Amaya Sharma, while the Best U-8 Player prizes were awarded to Maya Khan and Landon Mohabir.
Medals were awarded to the second and third places in the Under-10 and Under-8 age categories in both divisions. In the Open division, Jeremiah Jacobs and Yan Wen Chen won second and third, respectively, in the Under-10 category.
Amy Ramphal and Divya Persaud won second and third in the Girls’ competition. Avin Ramphal and Pranav Suman finished second and third, respectively, in the Under-8 Open division.
Siblings Michaela and Malia Thompson took home the second and third-place medals for the Under-8 Girls. The trophies and medals were presented to the top performers at the prize-giving ceremony, marking the end of an exciting day of chess.
The Guyana Chess Federation encourages young players to live engaged and continue honing their competencies in chess for upcoming national tournaments. The match highlighted the growing depth of talent in Guyana’s junior chess scene, with players demonstrating strong tactical focus and aggressive spirit.
Participants were from various schools in and around Georgetown, including Bishop’s High School, Christ Church Secondary, Diamond Secondary, Dolphin Secondary, Marian Academy, New Guyana School, Queen’s College, Queenstown Secondary, Richard Ishmael Secondary, St. Stanislaus College, and School of the Nations.
The Guyana Chess Federation would like to express its gratitude to Readymix Concrete for its sponsorship and to the School of the Nations for providing the venue for the tournament.
For more information on future tournaments and registration, or if you would like to join the Guyana Chess Federation, please visit our website guyanachess.gy. Continue to follow the GCF on Facebook and Instagram for more updates.
