36th Pan-Am Youth Chess Festival… Joshi leads Guyana’s performances on opening day

Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Aditi Joshi led Guyana’s performances on the opening day of the standard competition at the 36th Pan-American Youth Chess Festival, securing 1.5 points from her first two matches.
Competing in the Under-16 girls’ division on Monday, Joshi began with a draw against Colombia’s Daniela Leiva before defeating another Colombian, Salome Gonzalez, in the second round. The 1745-rated Guyanese ended the day in 18th position.
Kyle Couchman, Aiden Tinnie and Pranav Suman also recorded victories for Guyana, while Sanjay Suman collected a point through a second-round bye.
Couchman opened his Under-18 campaign with a win against Colombia’s Emmanuell Ocampo. However, the 1962-rated national junior champion was beaten in the second round by the 2148-rated Colombian Juan Cabiativa, leaving him on one point.

Tinnie recovered from an opening loss to Canada’s 1974-rated Shabd Dembla to defeat Venezuela’s Jose Arteaga in the Under-12 open category.
Pranav also bounced back from a first-round defeat, overcoming Amin Sanchez of the Dominican Republic in the second round of the Under-8 open competition. He had lost his opening match to Ross Blackwood of the Cayman Islands.
Sanjay lost his first Under-12 open match against Colombia’s Joseph Guzman before receiving a bye in the second round.
Seven other Guyanese players ended the opening day with half a point. Jeremiah Jacobs drew with Jamaica’s Kaie Chambers, while Amaya Sharma shared the point with Aishwarya Kunapuli of the United States.

Divya Persaud drew her opening Under-12 girls’ match against Guatemala’s Valery Rivas before losing to Mexico’s Alondra Avalos.
Alek Ubaldo-Singh and Abel Fernandez Ciria recovered from opening-round defeats to draw with Colombia’s Javier Yanez and Jamaica’s Khaleel Bartlett, respectively, in the Under-14 open division.
Rebha Lachhman earned her half-point against Colombia’s Valery Valencia in the Under-14 girls’ category, while Emma John drew with Colombia’s Isabela Elorza in the Under-16 girls’ section.
Mark Defreitas, Jordon Jacobs, Vir Narine, Arian Tinnie and Alexander Zhang finished the opening day without a point.
Guyana’s 17 players are competing across divisions ranging from the Under-8 open category to the Under-18 open section.