Defending National Chess Champion Taffin Khan is confident of steamrolling his way to win the National Chess Title for the third consecutive time.
From invited comments given to the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) by all the finalists, Khan was firm on defeating his opponents and retaining the title. “After finishing my games, I hope to get some rating points and win the Championship three times in a row,” he declared.
The GCF sponsored 2025 National Open Chess Championship began on Saturday May 24, 2025 at School of the Nations, Georgetown. Nine top players are engaged in fierce over-the-board battles with the defending champion in a single round-robin contest to win the holy grail of local chess.
However, top Junior player Kyle Couchman has upped the ante for the title. “I expect to play strong, focused chess and challenge every opponent I face. My goal is to win the title and prove that I’m ready to lead the next generation of Guyanese chess,” he said in a show of confidence.
His Junior counterpart, Sachin Pitamber also had high hopes. “I know I’m about to face strong preparation from each player, and after everything, I’m expecting myself to grasp one of the top positions. I’m filled with determination to win this year,” he positively exclaimed.
Championship finalist Rolex Alexander also gave a thumbs up to his own performance. “Having qualified at the bottom of the table, I’m entering this championship with nothing to lose and everything to prove. My goal is to give my best performance, disrupt expectations, and cut down giants—one move at a time. I’m coming for the crown, whether it’s worn by a king or a champion,” he warned.
Aditi Joshi, reigning National Women’s Champion, and lone female contender hoped for more female participation in the Nationals. “This is my first time qualifying for the open nationals. Seeing the competitors in this tournament, I can only conclude that every match will be a tough one. I hope I can use the experience and strategies I’ve garnered from my previous tournaments to win my games and play to the best of my ability. I will train as much as possible to place high in the open championships. Subsequently, I hope I can inspire more females to play chess at a competitive level here in Guyana,” she appealed.
Veteran player Ronuel Greenidge feels that chess players have improved and humorously attributed losing to being an addition to a preserved animal trophy collection. “I am privileged to be part of this great chess move, where the quality and level of play is continually on the increase.
I am happy to do battle with this generation of players where the will to win is very high and they will happily add you to their taxidermy collection,” he cautioned.
Keron Sandiford, former National Junior Champion pledged to do his utmost. “I expect to give my best in every game and adapt to each challenge as it comes. Win or lose, I’ll play with focus, discipline, and respect for every opponent. I’m here to compete seriously and make every match count,” he affirmed.
Junior player Alexander Zhang felt his performance would be of a high standard in the tournament. “After facing all my opponents in this championship, I expect my performance to reflect both my preparation and adaptability. I’ve prepared thoroughly and analysed my opponents’ styles, so I expect to perform strongly. My goal is to be among the top contenders, and I believe I have what it takes to achieve that,” he concluded.
Ricardo Narine, reigning National Junior Champion was moderate in his sentiments. “I expect my performance to reflect both my preparation and growth as a player, and I’m looking forward to creating interesting positions on the board and having some dynamic battles,” he commented.
Joshua Gopaul, 2018 National Junior Champion has made a comeback into the 2025 Nationals with mixed feelings. “As a casual chess player, I don’t really have any sort of expectations regarding my performance against my opponents; I do however plan on having some fun over the board playing my style of chess,” he offered.
The predominantly young players, some of whom have already worn other national chess titles are participating in the closed event which is expected to wrap up by Sunday June 1, 2025.
