Candidate Master (CM) Sachin Pitamber and Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Aditi Joshi delivered stellar performances last Saturday, emerging as the top players in their respective divisions at the highly competitive National Under-16 Chess Tournament, sponsored by Kitty Square Mall.
The tournament, hosted by the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF), took place at the School of the Nations and attracted 58 talented junior players—36 boys and 22 girls—who battled through seven intense rounds of rapid chess. Each player was allotted 20 minutes per game, with a five-second increment per move.
In the Open division, CM Sachin Pitamber once again proved his dominance, accumulating an impressive 6.5 points to secure the championship title. Pitamber, who earned his chess title at the 2024 Chess Olympiad in Hungary, expressed his joy at winning the Under-16 championship for the second consecutive year.
Candidate Master Sachin Pitamber
“I was ecstatic, having won the U16 championships for two years, and I had high hopes, aspirations, and determination to win. I have improved my performance from last year, which I’m glad about, and I look forward to retaining my title next year,” Pitamber stated.
The competition was fierce, with stronger players raising the level of play compared to previous years. His toughest challenge came from Kyle Couchman, who also finished with 6.5 points. However, Pitamber emerged victorious through the tie-break system, with his only half-point coming from a draw against Couchman. Couchman’s strong performance earned him the runner-up position, while newcomer Jaden Todd displayed resilience and secured third place with 5.5 points.
In the Girls’ division, WCM Aditi Joshi demonstrated her tactical prowess, securing 6.5 points to claim the championship title. Having held the National Under-14 title last year, Joshi proved her ability to perform at the highest level.
Despite her confidence, she admitted to feeling nervous due to stiff competition from Ciel Clement and Kataleya Sam. “The competition was very high compared to the previous two years,” Joshi remarked. Her sole draw came against Clement in a closely contested match.
Recently crowned Under-12 Girls Champion, Kataleya Sam, followed closely in second place with 6 points, her only loss coming against Joshi. Clement rounded off the top three with 5.5 points, highlighting the fierce battles within the girls’ category.
The Open division also saw impressive performances from several rising stars. National Under-12 Champion Abel Fernandez secured fourth place with 5.5 points. Alexander Zhang, Mahir Rajkumar, Omar Shariff, Arysh Raghunauth, and Aiden Tinnie all finished with 5 points, showing the depth of talent in the tournament.
In the Girls’ division, Parnita Kishun placed fourth with 5 points, while Kaija Clement, Tharisha Montes De Oca, Angelina Yhap, Divya Persaud, Amaya Sharma, and Lusianna Farlot all ended with 4 points.
The tournament featured participants from various schools across Georgetown, showcasing the growing appeal of chess among young Guyanese players. Competitors represented institutions such as the Bishops’ High School, Christ Church Secondary, Dolphin Secondary, Marian Academy, New Guyana School, Richard Ishmael Secondary, School of the Nations, St. Joseph High, St. Rose’s High, Queen’s College, and Queenstown Secondary.
The Guyana Chess Federation reported a significant increase in junior participation in this year’s national championships, particularly in the Under-14 and Under-16 categories. This growth is largely attributed to the expansion of chess programmes in both public and private schools in Georgetown.
The Ministry of Education’s initiative to include chess in the curriculum under the Priority Areas Programme, led by Saeed Zameen, has started yielding positive results. Students from Christ Church Secondary, Dolphin Secondary, Richard Ishmael Secondary, Queenstown Secondary, and St. Joseph High are now competing at higher levels, enhancing their cognitive skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities.
The next major national youth chess competition will be the National Junior Chess Championship Qualifiers, an Under-20 event set for July 2025. This tournament traditionally attracts the largest number of participants and is expected to further showcase the country’s emerging chess talent.
