FIDE Master Anthony Drayton and Candidate Master Taffin Khan are off to represent Guyana in the Chess competition of the XXV Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games Santo Domingo 2026 in the Dominican Republic. The two Guyanese chess players will compete in the round-robin format of Rapid and Blitz games from July 25th to 28th, 2026, at the Chess Pavilion of the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center in Santo Domingo.
FM Drayton and CM Khan, after having qualified last January via a hybrid tournament for the final rounds of the CAC Chess Competition, will face their Central American and Caribbean counterparts in stiff competition over the board in the Absolute Category. The lineup of countries is Barbados, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela.
Drayton and Khan, two of Guyana’s most seasoned players, have long been at the forefront of the national and international chess scene. Drayton, the reigning National Blitz Champion, aims to make an impact on the international stage during this tournament. Meanwhile, Khan, a household name in Guyanese chess whose extensive experience speaks for itself, looks to sharpen his Rapid and Blitz skills at the boards.
Following this event, both players will gear up to represent Guyana at the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, this September.
The Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) extends its warmest wishes to both players for a successful and rewarding tournament. Their participation marks another positive milestone for the growing federation as they join fellow Guyanese athletes from various sporting disciplines competing at the CAC Games Santo Domingo 2026.
The GCF wishes to thank the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) for sponsoring the players and making their participation possible under the Association’s auspices.
For more information on federation membership, upcoming events, and chess programs, visit our official website at guyanachess.gy. Be sure to follow the Guyana Chess Federation on Facebook and Instagram to stay updated on all the latest local and international action!
