Guyana to participate in Central American and Caribbean Youth Chess Festival

Brandon Badal, Director of Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre (centre) with Joshi and Couchman

Nine young chess players will travel to Puerto Rico to compete in the 20th Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Youth Chess Festival, scheduled for December 14-21, 2025, in the city of Dorado.
The event, organised by the Puerto Rican Chess Federation (FAPR) in collaboration with the Confederation of Chess for the Americas (CCA), marks its twentieth edition and celebrates the region’s rising talent while strengthening bonds within the chess community.
Guyana will be represented by nine players from the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF): National Junior Chess Champion Kyle Couchman in the U-18 Absolute Category; Ciel Clement in the U-18 Girls; National U-16 Champion CM Sachin Pitamber in the U-16 Absolute; National Women’s Champion WCM Aditi Joshi in the U-16 Girls; National U-14 Girls Champion Emma John in the U-14 Girls; National U-14 Open Champion Nicholas Zhang in the U-14 Absolute; National U-12 Open Champion Abel Fernandez in the U-12 Absolute; National U-12 Girls Champion Kataleya Sam in the U-12 Girls; and Vir Narine in the U-10 Absolute Category.
Two of these players—Couchman and Joshi—have also secured sponsorship from Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre through the Pegasus Chess Club and its new Pegasus Youth Development Programme (PYDP).
Both athletes have signed official sponsorship agreements and will receive support for travel and competition readiness, with the PYDP scheduled to be formally launched in 2026.
Couchman, 16, is one of Guyana’s strongest young competitors and holds a career-high ELO of 2004, while Joshi, the 2025 National Women’s Champion and a Woman Candidate Master (WCM), is widely recognised for her strategic maturity and strong performances at national and regional levels.
Pegasus Director Brandon Badal noted that the organisation is committed to supporting young Guyanese talent, praising the discipline and excellence shown by both players and encouraging more organisations to get involved through PYDP’s corporate social responsibility framework.
The GCF expressed gratitude for Pegasus’ support and hopes additional sponsors will recognise the importance of investing in the nation’s rising chess talent.
The Guyana team will be accompanied by several parents, with Mrs. Tanya Clement serving as Head of Delegation, and the GCF wishes the players a safe and successful trip as they continue to develop their chess careers.