Anthony Drayton wins inaugural Chess 960 Freestyle Tournament

Anthony Drayton has emerged victorious in Guyana’s inaugural Chess 960 Freestyle Tournament, recently held at the Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre in Georgetown.

The event, hosted by the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) and sponsored by Brava Solutions, introduced a creative variation of classical chess.

Drayton, a familiar face at the top of the podium, played unbeaten through nine intense rounds, securing first place with an impressive 8.5 points.

His only draw came against long-time teammate CM Taffin Khan.

Khan, the defending champion of the upcoming National Open Championships, finished in second place with 7.5 points. His sole defeat was to current Junior Champion Ricardo Narine, with his draw against Drayton.

Fourteen-year-old CM Sachin Pitamber secured third place with 7 points, further cementing his reputation as a rising talent in Guyanese chess.

Other notable performances included:

• Kyle Couchman (15): Fourth place with 6 points.
• Ricardo Narine (20): Fifth place with 6 points, including a notable win against Khan.
• Woman Candidate Master Jessica Callender: Best female prize with 5 points.
• Alek Ubaldo-Singh: Also gained 6 points.
• Matthew Persaud: A newcomer, scored 5.5 points.
• Joshua Gopaul and Kishan Puran: Rounded out the top ten with 5 points each.

GCF President Anand Raghunauth praised the tournament for challenging players to think unconventionally. The top twelve boards were live-streamed, showcasing the innovative format.

Chess action in Guyana continues with the National Open Chess Championships, set to begin on Saturday, May 24, at the David Rose Special School.