Zhang & John Dominate ReadyMix Under -14 Chess Tournament

Nicholas Zhang and Emma John delivered stellar performances on Sunday, January  26, 2025, rising as the top players inside the Readymix Concrete-sponsored  National Under-14 Chess Tournament at School of the Nations.  

The tournament, hosted by the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF), saw intense  competition among 71 junior chess players, forty-three boys, and twenty-eight girls  competing in the seven rounds of rapid chess. The time control for each game was  20 minutes, with a 5-second increment added to the clock after the first move,  demanding sharp tactical play and endurance. 

Zhang showcased his dominance within the Open division, scoring 6½ points to  secure the championship title. The young player has been on the chess scene for  several years, winning many awards, but this is the first time he has secured a  championship title. Zhang claimed easy victories over his opponents with his half point resulting from a draw with young Julian Mohabir. Alek Ubaldo-Singh, a strong  contender for the title, claimed second with 6 points after losing his game to Zhang.  Mohabir finished third with 5½ points after losing to Ubaldo-Singh and drawing  with Zhang.  

Emma John won the Girls Under 14 Championship Title in the Girls division. Emma  secured 6½ points after she decimated six of her opponents. Her last game with  Under 12 Champion Kataleya Sam ended in a draw. Saura Ruplall followed behind  in 2nd place with 6 points with her only loss to John, while Lusianna Farlot secured  third with 5½ points. Farlot lost to John and drew with Sam.

Special trophy prizes were awarded to the Best Under 12 players in both the Open  and Girls divisions. 2025 Under 12 champions Abel Fernandez and Kataleya Sam  took home these awards. The Best Under 10 Player prizes went to Aiden Tinnie and  Amaya Sharma, while the Best U8 Player prizes were awarded to Maya Khan and  Landon Mohabir. Medals were awarded to the second and third places in the Under  10 and 8 age categories in both divisions. In the Open division, Jeremiah Jacobs and 

Yan Wen Chen won second and third, respectively, in the Under 10 category. Amy  Ramphal and Divya Persaud won second and third in the Girls’ competition. Avin  Ramphal and Pranav Suman finished second and third, respectively, in the Under 8  Open division. Siblings Michaela and Malia Thompson took home the second and  third-place medals for the Under 8 Girls.  

The trophies and medals were presented to the top performers at the prize-giving  ceremony, marking the end of an exciting day of chess. The GCF encourages young  players to live engaged and continue honing their competencies in chess for  upcoming national tournaments. 

The match highlighted the growing depth of talent in Guyana’s junior chess scene,  with players demonstrating strong tactical focus and aggressive spirit. Participants  were from various schools in and around Georgetown including Bishop’s High  School, Christ Church Secondary, Diamond Secondary, Dolphin Secondary, Marian  Academy, New Guyana School, Queen’s College, Queenstown Secondary, Richard  Ishmael Secondary, St. Stanislaus College, and the School of the Nations,  

The Guyana Chess Federation would like to express its gratitude to Readymix  Concrete for its sponsorship and to the School of the Nations for providing the  venue for the tournament.  

For more information on future tournaments and registration, or if you would like  to join the Guyana Chess Federation, please visit our website guyanachess.gy.  Continue to follow the GCF on Facebook and Instagram for more updates.