Young chess players impress at CARIFTA Championships

Guyana’s junior and senior chess players delivered a masterclass performance at the recently concluded CARIFTA Chess Championship, which concluded on Sunday.

Battling in a hybrid format from the Olympic House in Liliendaal, the Guyanese delegation went head-to-head virtually against nearly 450 players representing 15 Caribbean nations, securing multiple podium finishes and establishing Guyana as a rising powerhouse in regional chess.

The spotlight shone brightest on the Under-16 and Under-18 divisions, where local prodigies from Queen’s College commanded the virtual boards.

In the Under-16 Open Category, Candidate Master Sachin Pitamber put on a spectacular display, racking up a brilliant 7.5 points across nine gruelling rounds.

Pitamber registered seven victories and secured a draw against Trinidad and Tobago’s James Levi, suffering his only defeat at the hands of Suriname’s Thie-yen Fung.

While his outstanding score earned him the top spot on points, tie-breaker criteria ultimately placed him in a commendable second place.

Meanwhile, 16-year-old Kyle Couchman showcased brilliant tactical awareness in the Under-18 Open Category, claiming third place with an impressive six points.

The Guyanese girls matched their male counterparts’ podium success.

Fifteen-year-old Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Aditi Joshi secured third place in the Under-16 Girls division with six points, while 16-year-old Ciel Clement mirrored the achievement by clinching third in the Under-18 Girls category with four points.

The competitive energy carried over into the Open and Women’s Categories on Sunday. In the highly competitive Open division, CM Taffin Khan claimed 17th place in a crowded field.

Khan proved incredibly tough to beat, securing four wins and four draws to finish with six points, with his sole defeat coming against Suriname’s Pratul Panchoe.

FM Anthony Drayton also delivered a solid performance, starting the tournament with four consecutive victories before navigating a challenging middle phase to finish with five points.

Keron Sandiford battled through a roller-coaster tournament to finish with 4.5 points, anchoring his score with four wins and a vital eighth-round draw.

In the women’s division, WCM Jessica Callender and WCM Sasha Shariff demonstrated immense endurance over nine rounds of stiff competition. Callender finished 15th overall with five points, while Shariff secured 28th place with four points.

The future of Guyanese chess looks exceptionally bright, with the younger brackets putting up fierce fights across the board. In the Under-16 category, Nicholas Zhang finished with 5.5 points, followed closely by Alexander Zhang with five points, Parnita Kishun with four points, and Emma John with 3.5 points.

The Under-14 category showcased incredible depth. National Under-14 Open Champion Abel Fernandez Ciria led the Guyanese contingent in this category, finishing 6th overall with six points.

He was closely followed by Alex Ubaldo Singh, who secured 11th place with 6 points of his own. In the middle of the standings, Aquailani Swaminadha and girls’ champion Kataleya Sam fought hard to secure five points each, while Sana Sreebalakumar and Rebha Lachhman completed their runs with 3.5 and three points, respectively.

In the Under-12 category, Open Champion Aiden Tinnie led the charge with a strong 5.5 points, while Girls Champion Divya Persaud and Vir Narine both finished with five points. Saura Ruplall and Arian Tinnie rounded out the category with hard-fought 3.5-point finishes.

In the Under-10 division, Mark DeFreitas paved the way with 5 points, followed by Malia Thompson with 4.5 points, Isabella Shariff with 3.5 points, and Avery Munroe with three points.

Guyana’s youngest competitor, Pranav Suman, put on a spirited performance in the Under-8 category, finishing with an encouraging four points to close out a successful campaign.

The Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) expressed immense pride in the delegation’s growth and resilience throughout the high-stakes regional tournament.

While the GCF noted that continued training is on the cards to help the junior players reach their full potential, the executive body highly commended the dedication of every participant.

The Federation extended its sincere appreciation to FIDE Arbiter John Lee for his dedicated oversight of the local delegation, and thanked the Guyana Olympic Association for generously providing the world-class facilities at Olympic House to support the national team. (PRESS RELEASE)