Drayton to defend National Rapid Chess Championship title at Pegasus Suites

The 2026 National Rapid Chess Championship, sponsored by Readymix Concrete, is set for today at the Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre, with Guyana’s leading players competing for the national title in a one-day, fast-paced format.
Organised by the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF), the tournament will be staged in the Atlantic Room of the Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre from 09:00h. The event will follow a nine-round Swiss system, with each player allotted 15 minutes plus a five-second increment per move, a format designed to test speed, accuracy and decision-making under pressure.
Reigning champion FIDE Master (FM) Anthony Drayton will return to defend his title against a competitive field that includes National Chess Champion Candidate Master (CM) Sachin Pitamber, CM Taffin Khan, Kyle Couchman, Keron Sandiford and Joshua Gopaul. The female contingent will feature Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Jessica Callender and national youth champion Kataleya Sam, among others.

The championship, which is FIDE-rated, is open to players of all ages and genders. The GCF, in a press release, said it anticipated a field of approximately 40 participants, a mix of experienced campaigners and merging junior talent, all vying for the 2026 national rapid title.
A total prize fund of $175,000, along with trophies, will be awarded to the top performers, including a special cash prize for the best female competitor.
Tournament pairings and results will be accessible online, while the top 12 boards are scheduled to be live-streamed by the Federation’s technical team, providing broader access for spectators.
The Federation also acknowledged the continued support of Readymix Concrete and the Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre for facilitating the event and contributing to the development of the local chess community.