Drayton intends to use platform to assist young Chess players
Guyana’s top-rated chess player Anthony Drayton has been elected National Chess Coach in the recently concluded general elections of the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF).
National Chess Instructor Anthony Drayton teaching the game to a group of students
The 19 votes he secured earned him that election, and Drayton disclosed that he intends to use his platform to benefit young chess minds in Guyana at the Chess Club and Scholastic Centre he is about to open.
Drayton is hoping that this club would be able to train hundreds or thousands of Guyana’s children to play chess. He says that would create more innovative thinkers and competitive chess players, and they would someday make Guyana the best chess country in the Caribbean.
In an interview with this publication, Drayton said, “My job as the National Coach is to simply do volunteer training and open the club. That’s the main goal. Opening the club would (constitute) a big effort in training children to play chess, which is something that needs to be done.
“I’m hosting these classes in an attempt to spread chess throughout Guyana. These classes will be mostly for persons or kids who want to learn how to play chess, from moving the pieces to mastering the opening.”
Individuals who desire further information about this club are invited to check out the club’s Facebook page: Drayton’s Chess Club and Scholastic Centre; its email- [email protected], or call 613-2083.
Dayton has also informed this publication that the GCF has set itself the goal of seeing chess being taught as a subject in schools. It also plans to formulate initiatives to foster the formation of chess clubs; increase participation of women in the playing of chess; start grassroots programmes in regard to the playing of chess; foster the development of an interest in this game in hinterland regions; and facilitate diaspora participation in the promotion of chess locally.
The GCF is presently being led by its president, Frankie Farley.
