After seven intense rounds of chess on Saturday, February 7th, 2026, at the School of the Nations, Abel Fernandez Ciria emerged as the new National U14 Open Rapid Chess Champion, while Kataleya Sam was crowned the National U14 Girls Rapid Chess Champion for 2026. The U-14 Championships were proudly sponsored by Jade’s Wok, Pinnacle Business Services, and Cubs in Action International. The tournament attracted 40 boys and 34 girls vying for a top place in the championships, the largest number contested in this category.
Leveraging his experience as a former U12 Champion, Fernandez Ciria demonstrated tactical maturity throughout the tournament. His prowess was on full display as he finished with an impressive 6 points; his lone defeat came only in the final round against the reigning U12 Open Chess Champion, Aiden Tinnie.
Alek Ubaldo-Singh also finished with 6 points, securing second place after the tie-break criteria. His skills and understanding of the game were evident throughout the tournament, with his only defeat coming against Abel Fernandez.
Aiden Tinnie secured third place with 5.5 points. Tinnie’s performance further cements his reputation as a promising young talent. Finishing fourth on a tiebreaker with 5.5 points was Jeremy Cole. As a former U12 Champion, his performance underscored his mental fortitude and his ability to compete at the highest level of the U14 category. Vir Narine finished fifth with 5 points. He is one of the young talents rising in Guyanese Chess.
In the Girls’ Category, Sam drew upon her years of competitive experience, talent, and skill in her determined quest for the title, which she secured with a dominant 6 points, suffering her only setback against Divya Persaud in a hard fought sixth round.
Rebha Lachhman finished on 6 points but finished in second place due to tie break regulations. Lachhman played with a level head and sharp technical skills, with her only loss occurring against Sam in the third round.
Finishing in third place with 5 points, Divya Persaud demonstrated her tactical prowess by securing a series of dominant victories. She suffered losses in rounds three and seven against Chelsea Harrison and Lachhman, respectively. Securing 5 points for a fourth-place finish, Amaya Sharma displayed tactical brilliance despite falling in rounds four and six. Due to tiebreaker points, Sana
Sreebalakumar took fifth place with five points. She showcased remarkable resilience and skill throughout the event, despite stumbling in rounds two and seven.
Special prizes recognized outstanding young talent in the U12 and U10 categories. Current U12 Open Champion Aiden Tinnie and Girls’ Champion Divya Persaud secured the top U12 honours. In the U10 division, Landon Mohabir and Malia Thompson claimed the Open and Girls’ prizes, respectively. Rounding out the youth awards, Pranav Suman took home the Best U8 prize, while Roshan Ali was recognized as the youngest player in the Open section.
Certificates of participation and prizes were presented to the players during a simple prize-giving ceremony by Mr. and Mrs. Lucknauth, proprietors of Jade’s Wok and Pinnacle Business Services.
Thanks to the Chief Arbiter, John Lee, and the assistant arbiters, FM Anthony Drayton, Kim Shing Chong, Marcia Lee, Ethan Lee, Jessica Callender, Kishan Puran, Matthew Singh, Oluwadare Oyeyipo and Nathan Williams, who ensured that every move was played in strict accordance with international rules and regulations through their diligent supervision and hard work.
The Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) expresses its sincere gratitude to our sponsors Jade’s Wok, Pinnacle Business Services, and Cubs in Action International for their unwavering support and commitment to sponsorship and the development of chess within Guyana.
We also wish to thank the School of the Nations, a steadfast partner that continues to provide a premier venue for the federation’s tournament for several years.
For more information on the Guyana Chess Federation or on how to become a member, visit our official website at guyanachess.gy
