Ten Guyanese chess players will depart for Samarkand, Uzbekistan, this weekend to compete at the 46th Chess Olympiad, one of the biggest events on the international chess calendar.
Five men and five women will represent Guyana at the biennial tournament, which runs from September 15 to 27. The Open team comprises FM Anthony Drayton, CM Taffin Khan, CM Sachin Pitamber, Keron Sandiford and Kyle Couchman, while the Women's team features WCM Jessica Callender, WCM Aditi Joshi, WCM Sasha Shariff, Kataleya Sam and Ciel Clement.
Ahead of departure, players spoke about the qualities they believe will carry them through the tournament, from resilience and determination to perseverance, respect and consistency.
Drayton, preparing for his fifth Olympiad, said he carries a sense of responsibility beyond his own performance. "Every time I represent Guyana, I am playing for something greater than myself," he said, adding that he intends to compete with discipline and resilience.
Khan described the Olympiad as a battle of endurance. "No matter how tough the position, I will fight for every move to honour the Golden Arrowhead," he said.
Pitamber said determination would guide his approach, while Sandiford and Couchman pointed to perseverance and consistency, respectively, as the qualities they hope will sustain their play under pressure.
On the Women's team, Shariff said she intends to combine competitive ambition with integrity and sportsmanship, while Callender said her experience at previous international events has taught her to keep fighting regardless of how a tournament unfolds. Joshi cited resilience, and Clement said her focus would be on respect, for opponents, the game and the preparation behind her selection.
At 13, Sam is among the youngest members of the delegation and will play in her first Olympiad. She said she recognises the strength of the competition ahead but does not intend to be intimidated by more experienced opponents.
Guyana has participated in the Chess Olympiad consecutively since 2014, following the revival of local chess in the mid-2000s. This year's delegation spans different levels of experience, from Drayton's fifth appearance to Sam's first.
The Guyana Chess Federation credited FIDE, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, and ENet for their continued support of the Olympiad team.