The fact that a Guyanese player, Kataleya Sam, was decorated with a bronze medal in the under-10 category at the recent 2023 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Youth Chess Festival which was held in Trinidad and Tobago, speaks volumes for Guyana’s energetic chess development.
In local chess, the emphasis is centred on the youths. Added to Sam’s achievement of securing a medal, Queen’s College student Kyle Couchman defeated the winner of the under-14 tournament, Kael Samuel Bisnath of Trinidad and Tobago.
Couchman, playing the black pieces, outplayed his opponent and secured a Rook for a Bishop. A Rook is worth five pawns while a Bishop is worth three pawns. With only a Bishop, Rook and some pawns remaining on the chess board, the Rook proved superior to the Bishop. Couchman took control of the vacant h-file with his Rook and eventually sacrificed his Rook for White’s Bishop leaving a two pawn majority. One of Black’s pawns was passed, so White resigned.
Sam played White against Kira Nanan and checkmated her opponent in 16 moves. It was a king pawn opening. On her 15th move, Sam found a deadly continuation with a Rook check forcing her opponent’s resignation.
