PITAMBER AND TON-CHUNG SET FOR IV SOUTH AMERICAN YOUTH GAMES.

Candidate Master Sachin Pitamber and Italy Ton-Chung will represent Guyana in  Chess at the IV South American Youth Games in Panama as part of the Guyana  Delegation courtesy of the Guyana Olympic Association.  

The games will be held from April 12 to 25, 2026, with rapid and blitz chess  competitions being played from April 23 to 25, 2026, at the Metropolis Hall in  the Decapolis Hotel, Panama City. The two players will be accompanied by Coach  Anthony Drayton.  

Fresh off his victory at the 2026 National Open Chess Championship, fifteen year-old Sachin Pitamber is preparing to represent Guyana on the international  stage in Panama. The Queen’s College student—who also holds the National U 16 title—is no stranger to high-stakes play, having represented Guyana in  numerous international tournaments notably the 45th Chess Olympiad in  Budapest, Hungary, in 2024 where he gained his Candidate Master title. 

As the youngest Candidate Master in Guyana’s history, Pitamber’s resume is  formidable. He was a driving force behind Guyana’s gold medal victory at the  Inter-Guiana Games last December and remains a dominant fixture on the top  boards of local competition. Pitamber enters the South American Youth Games  well-equipped to face the region’s elite talent. 

A seasoned competitor on both the local and international stages, Italy Ton Chung is set to represent Guyana with distinction at the upcoming tournament  in Panama. Known for her resilience in standard time controls, the eighteen year-old University of Guyana student will look to leverage her extensive over the-board experience against her opponents. A key member of the female team  of the Inter-Guiana Games last December, Italy remains one of the top-ranking  junior female players in the local chess community. 

FM Anthony Drayton, one of Guyana’s most seasoned players and respected  coaches, will serve as the national coach for this tournament. No stranger to the  role, having travelled with the junior team as their mentor on numerous  occasions, Drayton will aim to provide training and guidance to the two young  athletes as they represent Guyana in Panama. 

The Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) extends its sincere gratitude to the Guyana  Olympic Association (GOA) for its vital support in including chess within the  national delegation. 

The GCF looks forward to a successful campaign in Panama and wishes the entire  Guyanese contingent the very best of luck across all sporting disciplines. We are  proud to see our players compete alongside Guyana’s finest athletes.