The seven junior chess players who competed in the XXI Central American and Caribbean Youth Chess Festival concluded their competition in Costa Rica on Saturday, November 7, 2026, marking the most successful performance to date. Young chess talents from across the region showcased their skills, determination, and strategic thinking over nine challenging rounds of classical play across 12 categories. Guyana was proudly represented by its talented young chess players, who competed in seven categories: Under-10 Absolute, Under-12 Absolute, Under-14 Absolute, Under-14 Girls, Under-16 Absolute, Under-16 Girls, and Under-18 Absolute.
Competing in the U14 Girls division, reigning National U14 and U16 Girls champion Kataleya Sam, with an ELO of 1510, captured an outstanding 5th-place finish for Guyana. Building on momentum from the recent Chess Olympiad experience and training, Sam secured 6 points, including victories over higher-rated players. Despite losing points in the 4th, 7th, and 9th rounds to Costa Rica’s Sofia Lora Molina (1640), LeFcia Fiorella Gurrero Diaz (1663), and Panama’s Lili Adriana Garcia Marroquin (1591), Sam held firm to secure a podium finish for Guyana.
In the U16 Absolute division, Candidate Master Sachin Pitamber (2049) delivered a strong performance to finish in 6th place with 6 points. Leveraging his international experience, Pitamber showed remarkable resilience over the board, posting four wins and four draws while suffering his sole defeat in Round 7 against Puerto Rico’s Jarek Pacheco Calderon (1867). Despite being the second
highest seed in his category, Pitamber missed a podium finish only on Fe-breaks.
In the U18 Division, National Junior Champion Kyle Couchman (2010) finished in 13th place with 5 points, recording 4 wins and 2 draws. Couchman’s performance highlight was a notable victory over Costa Rica’s FM SebasFan Angulo (2090). Despite facing tough losses in rounds 2, 6 and 7 against higher-rated players, Couchman drew upon his experience as a seasoned competitor to put up a fierce fight against his opponents.
Demonstrating remarkable tactical patience in the U16 Girls section, reigning National Women’s Champion WCM AdiF Joshi (1700) secured a commendable 9th place finish with 4.5 points. Displaying exceptional composure under pressure, Joshi fought through seven draws against heavily rated regional
compeFFon. Her campaign was highlighted by a fifth-round win over Guatemala’s Mireya Anahi Ponciano Gonzalez (1718), though she suffered a tough loss in Round 6 against Honduras’s Diana Camila Bobadilla Deras (1632).
Rounding out the performances was young talent, NaFonal U14 Open Champion Abel Fernandez Ciria, who finished 28th place, with 4.5 points in the U14 Absolute Division. Meanwhile, Vir Narine, another upcoming star, competing in the U12 Absolute Division, finished 37th with 4 points, and the delegation’s youngest and upcoming player, Mark Defreitas, placed 38th in the U10 category with 2.5 points.
Defreitas, the lone Guyanese participant in the Rapid and Blitz competitions hosted by the Costa Rican Chess Federation, finished a commendable 7th place with 6 points in the Rapid and gained 4 points in the Blitz, playing all rated players.
The Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) thanks Mrs. Fernandez Ciria for serving as the Head of Delegation.
President of the GCF, Anand Raghunauth, stated that the talent pool of junior chess players in Guyana has increased to a level where competing at tournaments such as these can provide an opportunity for players to win medals and give Guyana’s young talented players a valuable opportunity to test their skills against some of the region’s promising chess talent while gaining international competitive experience. In keeping with the federation’s mandate, he emphasised that the GCF continues to foster player growth nationally and internationally, adding that he is confident Guyana will stand out at future CAC Games.
