The board is set, the pieces are in motion, and the stakes are high. Guyana’s Under-18 chess team departs today for Suriname to compete in the team-format tournament at the Inter-Guiana Games from October 23rd to October 25th, 2026.
If last year’s results are any indication, the regional chess community has every reason to pay attention. Meet the eight players carrying the national colours: Nicholas Zhang, Darrel Abrams, Jeremy Cole, and Abel Fernandez Ciria will lead the boys’ contingent, while Ciel Clement, Sana Sreebalakumar, Parnita Kishun, and Emma John make up the girls’ team. Four boys, four girls, one flag, and a legacy that demands more than simply showing up.
Guiding the promising, largely new squad through the competition are: Team Manager Tanya Warren-Clement, coach Joshua Gopaul, and National Arbiter Kim Shing Chong. Their key focus will be helping these young players translate their preparation into success against strong regional opposition.
The team will compete in a double round-robin format against Suriname and French Guiana, divided into male and female divisions with up to four boards per team each round. Matches will feature a classical time control of 60 minutes with a 30-second increment per move, a format tailor-made for this squad, as each member distinguished themselves in national classical tournaments to earn their selection.
Guyana enters this competition after an outstanding performance last year at the National Racquet Centre, where the National Chess Team emerged as the champion and secured gold. Today, a new generation of rising talent takes the stage to build on that success. After showing strong form in domestic competition over the past year, these young players now earn the honour of representing Guyana internationally, some doing so for the first time.
The Inter-Guiana Games were established to strengthen ties and promote youth development across Guyana, French Guiana, and Suriname. First held in Suriname in 1967, the multi-sport event returns to Surinamese soil this year following last year’s edition in Guyana. The tournament has grown to eight sporting disciplines: Athletics, Basketball, Boxing, Chess, Futsal, Judo, Swimming, and Volleyball.
The Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) warmly thanks the National Sports Commission for leading the organization of the Guyanese contingent. Opportunities like the Inter-Guiana Games offer young athletes a vital platform to develop their talents, build resilience, and fly the national flag on the regional stage.
The GCF extends its warmest wishes to the team for a safe trip and a victorious tournament.
