13-year-old Sam earns historic Chess Olympiad selection

By Michelangelo Jacobus

At just 13 years old, Kataleya Sam has become the second-youngest chess player selected to represent Guyana at an Olympiad, marking a major milestone in her promising career.

Only Anaya Lall was younger when called upon to compete for Guyana at the prestigious global event. Lall was 12 when she represented the country at the 2022 Chess Olympiad in India.
Sam will make her Olympiad debut in Uzbekistan and has set ambitious goals, including securing the 75 rating points needed to convert her provisional Woman Candidate Master (WCM) title into the full title. She is also hoping to achieve a provisional Woman FIDE Master title.
“Being selected to represent Guyana at the Chess Olympiad means a lot to me. It feels like a dream come true because this is a major stepping stone in my chess journey,” Sam said in an exclusive interview with Guyana Times Sport.
The young player has been preparing for approximately three hours each day. Her training includes online games, opening preparation, tactical exercises, and the study of endgame positions.
Sessions with Serbian Grandmaster Aleksa Striković have also helped her address one of the more difficult areas of her game.
“He showed me various endgame positions which I had always found difficult until he explained them to me,” she related.
Along with those sessions, Sam has been training independently, placing particular emphasis on openings and endgames. Once her opponents are confirmed, she intends to study their recent matches to understand their playing styles and decide on the best approach for each game.
Sam has already represented Guyana internationally and won medals on two occasions. Those experiences have strengthened her determination and taught her to continue fighting despite difficult circumstances.
At the 2025 Central American and Caribbean tournament, she missed a round because of flight complications. Although the setback placed her at a disadvantage, she recovered to secure a medal.
Her first Olympiad will offer an opportunity to compete against players with much higher ratings and gain valuable experience. Sam expects the tournament to be diverse, exciting, and highly competitive, while also providing a chance to experience different cultures.
She believes her biggest challenge will be maintaining concentration during games that could last several hours. The cold conditions in Uzbekistan and unfamiliar surroundings could also affect her comfort and focus.
To address those concerns, Sam plans to wear warm clothing and become familiar with the playing venue and its surroundings before competition begins.
“It would mean the world to me to perform well for Guyana on the world stage,” she said. “I want to show that no matter where you come from, how young you are or what gender you are, everyone has the ability to succeed. However, you must work hard and remain focused because talent can only take you so far.”
Sam regularly visualises herself succeeding at the Olympiad and winning a prize. That ambition is driven partly by the sacrifices her family has made to support her development.
“I really want to win because I know the sacrifices my family makes for me to be where I am today, and I want to make them proud,” she explained.
The 13-year-old plans to approach the tournament with confidence, perseverance, prayer and a strong belief in her ability. She also draws inspiration from Michael Jackson’s 2001 message about repeating a task until it is done correctly, blocking out negativity and believing in yourself regardless of doubt or criticism.
With daily preparation and a determined mindset, Sam is hoping her historic selection will be the start of another successful chapter in her chess journey.