The Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) conducted a girl’s and women’s chess camp on Sunday, April 7th at the Cara Lodge Hotel in Quamina Street.
This was confirmed by a release from the federation. According to the correspondence, the forum, which is in its second iteration, was done in partnership with the Guyana Women in Chess Community (GWICC).
The release stated, “The core mission of the annual camp is to close the gap in gender parity in the game.
The GCF has seen a significant membership increase in female players, especially in the girls’ division in the age category tournaments of rapid games. The annual event attracted more than 50 girls and women, aged from eight years to forty-eight years, who came to enjoy an afternoon of fun and social interaction among their peers. In the group, some beginners eagerly learned from the seasoned players, while others focused solely on playing.”
Secretary of the GCF and organiser of the event, Marcia Lee, stated that these initiatives are important as they allow female players to develop their abilities within the confines of space specifically tailored to them.
According to Lee, these events have led to the expansion of the player pool in the female component as compared to previous years, which is a positive sign for the sport’s future and growth.
“The one-day camp is the perfect lead into the next tournament, the 2024 Women’s Chess Championship Qualifiers, which will play at the National Racquet Centre, Woolford Avenue, from April 13–14 and April 20–21, 2024,” the release stated.
