Fernandez Ciria, Sam crowned new U14 Rapid Chess Champions

After seven intense rounds of chess on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at the School of the Nations, Abel Fernandez Ciria emerged as the new National U14 Open Rapid Chess Champion, while Kataleya Sam was crowned the National U14 Girls Rapid Chess Champion for 2026.
The U-14 Championships were proudly sponsored by Jade’s Wok, Pinnacle Business Services, and Cubs in Action International. The tournament attracted 40 boys and 34 girls vying for a top place in the championships, the largest number contested in this category.

Leveraging his experience as a former U12 champion, Fernandez Ciria demonstrated tactical maturity throughout the tournament. His prowess was on full display as he finished with an impressive six points; his lone defeat came only in the final round against the reigning U12 Open Chess Champion, Aiden Tinnie.
Alek Ubaldo-Singh also finished with six points, securing second place after the tie-break criteria. His skills and understanding of the game were evident throughout the tournament, with his only defeat coming against Fernandez Ciria.
Tinnie secured third place with 5.5 points. Tinnie’s performance further cements his reputation as a promising young talent. Finishing fourth on a tiebreaker with 5.5 points was Jeremy Cole. As a former U12 Champion, his performance underscored his mental fortitude and his ability to compete at the highest level of the U14 category. Vir Narine finished fifth with 5 points. He is one of the young rising talents in Guyanese chess.

In the girls’ category, Sam drew upon her years of competitive experience, talent, and skill in her determined quest for the title, which she secured with a dominant six points, suffering her only setback against Divya Persaud in a hard-fought sixth round.
Rebha Lachhman finished on six points, too, but in second place due to tie-break regulations. Lachhman played with a level head and sharp technical skills, with her only loss occurring against Sam in the third round.
Finishing in third place with five points, Persaud demonstrated her tactical prowess by securing a series of dominant victories. She suffered losses in rounds three and seven against Chelsea Harrison and Lachhman, respectively. Securing five points for a fourth-place finish, Amaya Sharma displayed tactical brilliance despite falling in rounds four and six. Due to tiebreaker points, Sana Sreebalakumar took fifth place with five points. She showcased remarkable resilience and skill throughout the event, despite stumbling in rounds two and seven.
Special prizes recognised outstanding young talent in the U12 and U10 categories. Current U12 Open Champion Tinnie and Girls’ Champion Persaud secured the top U12 honours. In the U10 division, Landon Mohabir and Malia Thompson claimed the open and girls’ prizes, respectively. Rounding out the youth awards, Pranav Suman took home the Best U8 prize, while Roshan Ali was recognised as the youngest player in the open section.
Certificates of participation and prizes were presented to the players during a simple prize-giving ceremony by Mr and Mrs Lucknauth, proprietors of Jade’s Wok and Pinnacle Business Services.
Thanks were extended to the Chief Arbiter, John Lee, and the assistant arbiters, FIDE Master (FM) Anthony Drayton, Kim Shing Chong, Marcia Lee, Ethan Lee, Jessica Callender, Kishan Puran, Matthew Singh, Oluwadare Oyeyipo and Nathan Williams, who ensured that every move was played in strict accordance with international rules and regulations through their diligent supervision and hard work.
The Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) expressed its sincere gratitude to sponsors Jade’s Wok, Pinnacle Business Services, and Cubs in Action International for their unwavering support and commitment to sponsorship and the development of chess within Guyana.
“We also wish to thank the School of the Nations, a steadfast partner that continues to provide a premier venue for the Federation’s tournament for several years,” the GCF shared.
For more information on the Federation or on how to become a member, interested persons can visit the official website at guyanachess.gy.