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March 19, 2026
Defending National Champions Taffin Khan and WCM Aditi Joshi are cautious about their performances heading into the final rounds of the JUMBO JET / DIAMOND FIRE INSURANCE National Chess Championships this weekend at David Rose Special School.
In invited comments from the finalists provided to the GCF, tournament leader and FIDE Master Anthony Drayton said his performance relies heavily on self-discipline. “My biggest obstacle is myself—maintaining consistency, discipline, and clarity across every round. Once I stay aligned mentally and strategically, the results take care of themselves.”
Candidate Master Taffin Khan was circumspect about the outcome after meeting all his opponents. When asked who or what stands in his way of securing the 2026 National Champion title, Khan replied, “What’s stopping me from being champion again is everyone until the last game.”
Strong contender Keron Sandiford commented, “The only thing standing in my way is myself. I know I have the ability to win the 2026 National Championship. My dedication and my ability to stay focused will determine if I come out on top.”
Woman Candidate Master Aditi Joshi expressed confidence in successfully defending her Women’s Champion title. She stated, “I think I’m somewhat accustomed to playing under the pressure of external factors and expectations, strong competition, and the demands of my CSEC examinations that await me. I do believe I have the ability to play well against my talented opponents and what it takes to defend my title. I hope to make many in the chess world and beyond proud with my results after these nine matches.”
Winner of the Women’s qualifiers and the youngest contender, Kataleya Sam, is focused on developing her talent during this championship. She said, “At just 12 years old, I am the youngest player to qualify for this tournament, which I consider a significant personal achievement.
While I aspire to become the 2026 National Champion, I recognise that more experienced competitors present a strong challenge. At this stage, I am focused on gaining valuable experience and continuing to develop my skills, knowing that success will come with time.”
So far, four rounds have been played in the Jumbo Jet Auto Sales-sponsored National Open Chess Championships and the Diamond Fire Insurance-sponsored National Women’s Chess Championships. The nine-round round-robin competitions got underway on Saturday, 14 March 2026, at the David Rose Special School, with two games per day starting from 9 am.
In the Open Championship, FM Drayton remained unbeaten through the first four rounds, scoring 3.5 points and securing comprehensive victories against Rolex Alexander, Jaden Taylor, and Keron Sandiford. In the third round, he settled for a hard-fought draw against National Junior Champion Kyle Couchman.
The defending champion, CM Taffin Khan, also ended the weekend with 3.5 points. He remained unbeaten, securing three impressive wins and a hard-fought draw against another seasoned young player, CM Sachin Pitamber.
CM Pitamber, who concluded the weekend with a solid 3 points, maintained an impressive unbeaten streak, finishing the rounds with two victories and two draws.
Couchman and Sandiford are on 2.5 points each, while Rolex Alexander and Jaden Taylor have 2 points apiece. CM Ronuel Greenidge has 1 point, while Alexander Zhang and Leslie Campbell are yet to score.
In the Women’s Championship, WCM Joshi maintained her impressive momentum, ending the weekend unbeaten with 4 points. Her superior gameplay left her opponents with few answers, as she skillfully navigated each match to a decisive conclusion.
WCM Sasha Shariff finished the weekend unbeaten with 3.5 points. Her consistent play included a strategic third-round draw with WCM Jessica Callender, continuing the impressive form she displayed during the qualifiers.
In a resilient performance, WCM Callender has 3 points, remaining unbeaten through the weekend with two wins and two hard-fought draws.
Ciel Clement is on 3 points, followed by Anaya Lall with 2 points. Kataleya Sam and Treskolé Archibald concluded the weekend with 1.5 points each.
Rounding out the table are Sana Sreebalakumar on 1 point, Italy Ton-Chung on 0.5 points, and Parnita Kishun, who is yet to score.
The competition continues this weekend, with the stakes rising as players battle for the chance to become champion.
The federation expresses sincere gratitude to its sponsors, Jumbo Jet Auto Sales and Diamond Fire and General Insurance.
All boards for each category will be live-streamed on lichess.org by John Lee, FIDE Arbiter and Technical Director for the GCF. Results and pairings will be published on Chess-Results.com.
