Drayton triumphs in inaugural 960 Freestyle Chess tourney

After nine intense rounds of a thrilling variation of classical chess that promotes creativity and innovation, FIDE Master (FM) Anthony Drayton emerged victorious in the inaugural 960 Freestyle Chess Tournament hosted by the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) and sponsored by Brava Solutions.
The event was held on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at the Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre, Kingston, Georgetown, compliments of the Guyana Pegasus Hotel.

Drayton, no stranger to first-place podium finishes, played unbeaten, claiming first place with an impressive eight and a half points. The half point came in a draw against long-time teammate Candidate Master (CM) Taffin Khan.
Khan, the defending champion in the upcoming National Open Championships, secured second place with seven and a half points. His draw was against Drayton, and his sole defeat came from current Junior Champion Ricardo Narine.
Fourteen-year-old CM Sachin Pitamber secured third place with seven points, further solidifying his position as one of the country’s most talented junior chess players.
His only losses were to Drayton and Khan.

Fifteen-year-old Kyle Couchman secured fourth place with six points after losing to Drayton, Khan, and Pitamber. Couchman’s tenacity and passion for chess are unmistakable as he continues to establish himself in local competition.
Junior Champion Narine, not one to be left behind, finished fifth with six points after suffering three losses. One of his notable wins was against Khan in the sixth round. Narine has proven that his growing skills are paving the way for excellence in his rise to the top. The 20-year-old’s losses were against Pitamber, Drayton, and Couchman. Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Jessica Callender won the best female prize after finishing with 5 points after four losses. Callender continues to challenge herself to grow and develop, making her one of the most successful young women in the local chess community.
The tournament saw notable performances from Alek Ubaldo-Singh, a young upcoming player, who also gained six points. Matthew Persaud, a newcomer to the scene, gained five and a half points, while Joshua Gopaul and Kishan Puran rounded out the top 10 with five points each.
The top five finishers were presented by Lloyd Harmon with cash prizes sponsored by Brava Solutions. Speaking to the chess players, Harmon congratulated them and indicated his support for the development of young minds, for which chess serves as an ideal platform. The GCF said it wished to thank Brava Solutions for their kind support and looked forward to a continued partnership in chess.
The top 12 boards were live-streamed, thanks to the skills of FIDE Arbiter John Lee, who continues to provide the Federation with innovative and technological support. Gratitude was also extended for the assistance of National Arbiter Kim Shing-Chong and support from Ethan Lee and Italy Ton-Chung.
GCF President Anand Raghunauth lauded the tournament as a success, noting its effectiveness in challenging chess players to depart from their usual strategies, prompting unconventional thinking from the initial stages of the game.
The GCF also extended heartfelt thanks to the Guyana Pegasus Hotel for generously providing the tournament venue. According to the Federation, Brandon Badal, the hotel’s Managing Director and an avid chess player, championed the freestyle chess tournament, introducing players to a challenging twist of varied chess openings in every game.
Chess action continues with the National Open Chess Championships, set to begin on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at the David Rose Special School.