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Keron Sandiford, after two weekends of intense competition, won the National Open Chess Championship Qualifiers, while young Kataleya Sam took home the first-place prize in the Women’s Qualifiers. The 2026 National Open Chess Championship Qualifiers and the Diamond Fire-sponsored Women’s Chess Championship Qualifiers concluded last Sunday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, determining the top nine positions in each category who will move forward to the championships.
Sandiford delivered a dominant performance, finishing with an impressive seven points in the eight-round classical tournament. He demonstrated profound strategic depth and technical skill, securing definitive victories against seasoned senior players, including FM Anthony Drayton, CM Ronuel Greenidge, and junior player CM Sachin Pitamber. His only setback in an otherwise flawless run occurred in the seventh round; a hard-fought loss to Kyle Couchman was the sole factor that thwarted his bid for a perfect score.
Securing second place was Drayton, who finished with a hard-fought 6.5 points. FM Drayton showcased his vast experience in navigating a competitive field of both senior and junior players. His only setbacks were his loss to Keron Sandiford in the third round and a strategic draw in the seventh round against Greenidge.
Couchman, the reigning National Junior Chess Champion, secured third place with six points from the eight rounds of play. As one of Guyana’s most seasoned junior competitors, Couchman recorded crucial victories against counterparts Kim Shing Chong, Alexander Zhang, and Keron Sandiford. He also managed draws against CM Pitamber and CM Greenidge, with his sole defeat coming at the hands of FM Drayton in the fifth round.
Fourth place went to Greenidge, who secured five points after the tie-break calculations. Greenidge recorded four commanding wins, though he conceded matches to Kishan Puran and Keron Sandiford in the first and fourth rounds, respectively. He also fought to strategic draws in the sixth and seventh rounds against FM Drayton and Couchman.
Also finishing on five points was Jaden Taylor, whose strong tie-break score earned him the fifth-place position. Taylor enjoyed an excellent showing, with his only losses coming against the tournament’s top three finishers. Sixth place went to CM Pitamber, who also concluded with five points. Pitamber played nearly flawless chess throughout the event; however, despite securing crucial draws, he slipped to sixth after a fifth-round loss to Keron Sandiford and being forced to miss the sixth round due to illness.
Rounding off the top nine, Rolex Alexander secured seventh position with five points, followed by Alexander Zhang and Leslie Campbell, who both finished with 4.5 points to claim the eighth and ninth spots, respectively.
In the Women’s Category, twelve-year-old Kataleya Sam produced a flawless and commendable performance, finishing unbeaten with seven points across eight rounds of play, making her the youngest female to win the National Women’s Qualifiers. The reigning U14 and U16 Girls’ Champion played immaculately throughout both weekends, securing notable victories against WCM Jessica Callender and Ciel Clement in rounds five and six. She also navigated hard-fought draws against WCM Sasha Shariff and Treskolé Archibald in rounds three and four, while efficiently dispatching her opponents in the remaining rounds with seeming ease.
Securing second place was former National Women’s Champion WCM Shariff, who also remained unbeaten throughout the tournament to finish with a solid six points. WCM Shariff’s years of competitive experience were on full display as she moved through the field with poised confidence, securing comfortable victories while navigating several hard-fought draws. A particularly notable win came in the second round, where she defeated teammate and former National Women’s Champion WCM Callender.
Callender claimed third place on tie-breaks with six points. She utilized a careful and strategic approach throughout the tournament, resulting in several hard-fought victories over her opponents. Her only setbacks in the eight-round tournament were two losses, against WCM Shariff and Sam in the second and fifth rounds, respectively.
Securing fourth place with 5.5 points after a gruelling tournament was Ciel Clement. As one of Guyana’s seasoned female competitors, Clement demonstrated her vast experience through a series of pivotal victories and strategic draws during the tournament’s most critical rounds. Her tactical gameplay was on full display as she navigated the eight-round tournament.
Fifth place went to Sana Sreebalakumar, one of Guyana’s most promising up-and-coming young players. Throughout the tournament, Sreebalakumar displayed remarkable discipline and courage over the board—qualities that ultimately earned her a top-position finish. She recorded a series of commanding victories and secured pivotal draws exactly when they were needed most.
Rounding off the top nine positions were Archibald, Anaya Lall, Italy Ton-Chung, and Parnita Kishun, who all concluded the tournament with a competitive score of 4.5 points each. These players demonstrated resilience and skill throughout the eight rounds to secure their places among the elite qualifiers.
The top nine players from each category have earned a well-deserved place from a field of over 50 participants to qualify for the upcoming 2026 National Chess Championships. The candidates in each division are vying to seize the national title from the reigning Open Chess Champion CM Taffin Khan and Women’s Chess Champion WCM Aditi Joshi. Twenty players, including the respective champions, will engage in nine rounds of mental combat over the board in a single round-robin contest.
The championship battles commence on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at the David Rose Special School.
The GCF extends its heartfelt gratitude to Diamond Fire and General Insurance for their steadfast and invaluable support of women’s chess. For several years, the company has served as the proud sponsor of both the National Women’s Chess Qualifiers and Championships, fostering the growth of the game in Guyana. Special thanks are also due to the National Sports Commission for facilitating the use of the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
