Competitive chess, hosted by the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF), is returning to Berbice on Sunday, August 24th, 2025. The GCF has organized a One-Day 20/20 Rapid Chess Tournament to be held in the Conference Hall of Little Rock Suites, located at Main and Church Streets, New Amsterdam, starting at 9:30 AM sharp. Participation is free with trophies and cash prizes to be won in the seven-round Swiss System competition.
The shorter version of the tournament mirrors 20/20 cricket with its faster play, but instead of 20 overs, participating chess players have 20 minutes each to score a win over their opponents in the seven matches to be contested. If a player’s time runs out, the match is lost. The exhilarating event is set to showcase the strategic brilliance of Berbice’s top chess players.
Mr. Steve Leung, New Amsterdam chess player, in an invited comment gave his insight to the GCF on the challenges he expects in the fast-paced competition. “The greatest challenge for me while only playing with 20 minutes, is playing the endgame. There’s usually little time on the clock, where every second matters. Under time pressure, there is an increased chance for mistakes to arise, which could cost you the game,” he said.
Digital chess clocks provided by the Federation will regulate the rapid format. The time control forces experienced players to execute winning moves as the clock counts down, while pairs of opponents face off each other in a battle of minds.
Mr. Colin Bowry, an avid chess player and Mathematics teacher at New Amsterdam Multilateral School, is comfortable with the time control of 20 minutes per player for each match. “I don’t really have a difficulty playing within that time limit because when I learnt the game I was taught to use my opponent’s thinking time as my thinking time,” he cleverly declared.
The event is open to all Berbice chess players, and cash prizes will be awarded for the First, Second, and Third Places. A special prize will also be awarded to the Best Female.
Registration is online only – players are encouraged to sign up early on the GCF’s website guyanachess.gy to secure their spot by Thursday, August 21st. The link can also be found on GCF’s Facebook page. Berbice Players can contact Mr. Nandalall on WhatsApp 623-7723 for more information on registration.
Tournament Arbiters, Jessica Callendar and Shiv Nandalall, will be present to ensure the smooth running of the competition.
The Guyana Chess Federation is proud to sponsor this competition. It is specifically designed to revive and expand the game in the county of Berbice, where chess was once very popular. This tournament aligns with the federation’s plan for nationwide expansion and its long-term goal of having chess in schools. The federation hopes this event will draw players of all ages who will help build a vibrant local community and go on to compete in future chess events.
Chess players within Berbice wishing to become a member of the GCF can also do so on guyanachess. gy.
