NATIONAL CHESS CHAMPIONS OFF TO TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

National Chess Champions, Candidate Master Taffin Khan and Woman Candidate  Master Jessica Callender will participate in the upcoming 2025 Subzone 2.3.3  Absolute & Women Chess Championships in the vibrant twin island nation of  Trinidad and Tobago. The Trinidad and Tobago Chess Association (TTCA) will host the competition at the Cascadia Hotel and Conference Centre in St. Ann’s from  April 11th to April 18th, 2025. 

CM Khan will compete in the Absolute category, while WCM Callender will  compete against her female counterparts in the Women’s category. Khan, with  an ELO rating of 2023, is Guyana’s top-rated player and the reigning National  Chess Champion. Khan will compete against the Caribbean’s best for a chance to  win, improve his game, and earn rating points. Khan has proven his mettle over  the years in Guyana, both in the classical and rapid competitions. He will now  play in the Swiss competition with a time control of 90 minutes with 30 30- second increments per move, his strongest suit.  

Callender, who has an ELO rating of 1568, will also have the opportunity to  elevate her game and accrue rating points as she faces formidable competition  from the Caribbean’s elite female chess players. Callender, who reigned as  National Women’s Champion for 2023 and 2024, was selected in January 2025  to represent Guyana. 

Cash prizes amounting to 3000 USD and 2250 USD are up for grabs in the  Absolute and Women’s categories, respectively. Eligible players can gain titles  and norms per FIDE regulations.  

The 2025 SUBZONE 2.3.3 Absolute & Women Chess Championships are open to  players who represent national chess federations from Antigua and Barbuda,  Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands,  Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Ned. Antilles, Saint Kitts and Nevis,  Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, and  the U.S. Virgin Islands.  

The winner in each category will automatically qualify for the next FIDE World  Cup. 

CM Taffin Khan and WCM Jessica Callender now proceed to Port of Spain with  the full support and confidence of the Guyana Chess Federation that they would  do us all proud. 

The GCF’s President, Anand Raghunauth, continues to advocate for players to  improve their games through international competition. The opportunities  afforded to players who excel in chess continue to grow as the GCF strives to  build an environment conducive to the advancement and progress of chess.