Abel Fernandez and Kataleya Sam are the new Under 12 Chess Champions for 2025 after performing splendidly in the National Under 12 Chess Championships. The tournament, sponsored by Moo Milk, went off without a hitch last Saturday, January 19th, 2025, in the Oasis Terrace Room of the Guyana Pegasus Hotel,
Kingston. The Guyana Chess Federation hosted some fifty-four participants, the largest ever for an Under 12 tournament, with thirty-eight boys and sixteen girls.
The seven-round competition showcased outstanding talent from young upcoming chess enthusiasts and fierce competition from the more experienced players in the junior divisions vying for top honors in the Open and Girls categories. Newcomer to the scene, Abel Fernandez, copped the Open Category Under 12 Championship prize when he defeated his opponents to become the holder of the 2025 title. The defending Girls Champion, Kataleya Sam, successfully regained her crown after playing unbeaten in the seven rounds.
The Open category was hotly contested, with Fernandez winning with 6 points. The 2024 Open U12 Champion, Jeremy Cole, placed second with 5.5 points, while Yan Wen Chen took the third placement, also with 5.5 points. In the Girls Category, Chelsea Harrison copped the second-place trophy with 5 points, while Rebha Lachman placed third, also with 5 points. Category prizes went to the Best U10 player, Aiden Tinnie, in the Open Category, while Saura Ruplall won Best U10 player in the Girls Category.
The Best U8 prize went to Zidane Harmon and Isabella Loy in the Open and Girls category respectively.
Medals were presented to the second and third places for the U10 and U8 age categories. Placing second and third for the U10 Open were Javier Davenand, with 5 points, and Vir Narine, with 5 points. In the Girls Category, placing second and third were Amy Ramphal and Divya Persaud. From the youngsters in the U8 Open, Avery Munroe and Ian Charles took home second and third medals, and the U8 Girls, Malia Thompson, and Maya Khan earned their second and third spots, respectively.
Each participant was presented with a certificate of participation by Moo Milk representative,
Ms. Shannon Savory, who also presented the trophies and medals.
The Rapid Chess competition was set to seven rounds each for both the Open and Girls Categories and was played in the Swiss format with a time control of 20 minutes plus 5-second increments after the first move.
The competition featured top-tier players vying for the titles, with several girls achieving outstanding results. This year’s event underscored the continued growth of junior chess in Guyana, evidenced by the encouraging turnout of young players eager to test their skills. The 2025 National Under-12 Chess Championship is a true testament to the dedication and talent of young Guyanese chess players, and many are already looking forward to the next tournament. In a solicited comment, the President of the Guyana Chess Federation, Mr. Anand Raghunauth remarked, “The U12 serves as a significant entry point into competitive chess for young players. It offers an excellent opportunity for parents to recognize their children’s potential and for chess coaches to identify new talent. The tournament contributes to the overall development of both the young players and the sport of chess as a whole. “
The competition was overseen by Chief Arbiter, John Lee who was assisted by Jessica Callender, Kim Shing Chong, Ricardo Narine, Odit Rodrigues, Italy Ton- Chung, Ethan Lee, Oluwadare Oyeyipo, and Kishan Puran.
The Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) expresses its sincere gratitude to DeSinco Trading for their generous support through the Moo Milk brand, which made this event possible. The GCF also thanks the Guyana Pegasus Hotel for graciously hosting the tournament at their unique venue. GCF also congratulates all the young participants for their incredible display of skill and strategic ability. For more information on GCF and upcoming events, visit guyanachess.gy or follow them on social media for updates.
Guyana Chess Federation