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Eleven-year-old Divya Persaud captured the first-place trophy with a standout performance at the Women’s Day Rapid Chess Tournament hosted by the Gambit Group.
The event, organised in collaboration with the Gambit Group, the Guyana Chess Federation’s Women in Chess programme, and the School of the Nations, was held on Friday, March 6, 2026, to commemorate International Women’s Day.
A total of 24 female players from several schools participated in the tournament. Among the participating institutions were the School of the Nations, Marian Academy, St. Joseph High School, St. Rose’s High School, Christ Church Secondary, Richard Ishmael Secondary, New Guyana School, St. John’s College and Mae’s Primary School.
Persaud, a student of the New Guyana School and the reigning National Under-12 Girls Rapid Champion, finished the tournament unbeaten with six points, recording four wins and two draws.
Marian Academy’s Tharisha Montes De Oca secured second place with five points, while her schoolmate Angelina Yhap finished third, also with five points. Both players have been competing in chess for several years and continue to progress among Guyana’s top junior female players.
Fourth place and the Best Under-16 prize went to New Guyana School’s Lusianna Farlot, while St. Rose’s High School’s Gabrielle Mohabir claimed fifth place and the Best Under-14 award. Amaya Sharma of the School of the Nations finished sixth and received the Best Under-12 prize.
Medals were also awarded to Shameera Dwarka of Christ Church Secondary, Anaya Lall and Maya Ali of the School of the Nations, and Madison Spencer of St. Joseph High School, who placed seventh through tenth respectively.
The competitors displayed their skills in a seven-round, 10-minute rapid chess format.
Trophies and medals were presented during a brief ceremony by Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Sasha Shariff, a member of the Gambit Group.Organisers also expressed appreciation to the organising team led by Gambit Group founder Oluwadare Oyeyipo, along with arbiters Marcia Lee, Keron Sandiford, WCM Jessica Callender and Nathan Williams, whose efforts ensured the tournament was conducted fairly and in accordance with the rules.Thanks were also extended to the School of the Nations for providing the venue and to Callender for capturing photographs of the event.
