The 2026 National Rapid Chess Championship will begin on Saturday in Georgetown, with top players set to compete in a one-day, nine-round Swiss tournament, organisers said.
The event, sponsored by Readymix Concrete and hosted by the Guyana Chess Federation, will be held at the Atlantic Room of the Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre. Play is scheduled to start at 0900 hrs, with a time control of 15 minutes plus a 5-second increment.
Reigning National Rapid Champion FIDE Master Anthony Drayton will defend his title against a field that includes National Champion Candidate Master Sachin Pitamber, Candidate Master Taffin Khan, Kyle Couchman, Keron Sandiford and Joshua Gopaul, among others.
Women’s competitors include Woman Candidate Master Jessica Callender and national U16 and U14 girls champion Kataleya Sam.
The FIDE-rated tournament is open to players of all ages and genders, with organisers expecting about 40 participants ranging from experienced players to junior prospects.
A total prize fund of G$175,000 will be on offer, along with trophies for top finishers and a special cash prize for the best female player.
The Guyana Chess Federation thanked Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre for hosting the event, and Readymix Concrete for its continued support of local chess development.
Tournament pairings and results will be available on chessresults.com, while the top 12 boards will be live-streamed by FIDE Arbiter and Technical Director John Lee.
