FM Drayton sharpens preparation for 5th Chess Olympiad appearance

FIDE Master (FM) Anthony Drayton has intensified his preparation for the 2026 Chess Olympiad, focusing on his openings, tactical sharpness and physical conditioning ahead of the global tournament in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
The experienced national player told Guyana Times Sports in invited comments that his training has continued beyond the Guyana team’s recent sessions with Serbian Grandmaster Aleksa Striković.
Drayton said working with Striković helped to expose weaknesses in his game and identify aspects of his playing style that required improvement. Since those sessions concluded, he has concentrated on the areas highlighted by the Grandmaster while continuing to build his overall preparation.
Opening preparation remains a major part of his training. Drayton develops specific openings intended to provide certain advantages against stronger opponents. He also prepares lines that could allow him to quickly punish mistakes made by lower-rated players.

His routine includes training games, tactical exercises and puzzles to ensure he remains sharp ahead of the September 14-28 Olympiad.
However, Drayton explained that his preparation becomes more focused when Guyana’s opponent for each round is confirmed. He then studies the player’s previous games, preferred openings and the types of positions in which they are most comfortable.
That information allows him to condense his broader preparation and develop a plan suited to the player he expects to face.
Drayton is also paying close attention to the physical and mental demands of the tournament. Games at the highest level can last between three and six hours, forcing players to maintain concentration for long periods.
As a result, his preparation includes physical conditioning, mental training, adequate rest and a consistent diet.
The demands can become even greater after a difficult result. Drayton noted that playing a six-hour game is already physically and mentally exhausting, but losing after such a lengthy battle can make recovery even harder. Players must overcome both the exertion and disappointment before preparing for the next round.
This year’s tournament will mark Drayton’s fifth Olympiad appearance after making his debut in Tromsø, Norway, in 2014. He has represented Guyana at every Chess Olympiad the country has attended since then.
The tournament has also played a defining role in his career, with Drayton earning both his Candidate Master and FIDE Master titles through his performances at previous Olympiads.
He described representing Guyana as an “honour” and hopes other members of the national team can use the opportunity to produce breakthrough performances and achieve international titles of their own.
Drayton views the Olympiad as one of the truest tests of an individual player’s strength and a country’s overall chess ability. It gives Guyanese players an opportunity to face world-class opposition while observing some of the sport’s leading competitors at close range.
He added that the atmosphere is difficult to fully understand without experiencing it. Teams from around the world gather at one venue, surrounded by national flags and some of the biggest names in chess.
However, once the clocks are started, reputations become secondary. The player’s attention shifts entirely to the opponent, the position on the board and finding the best moves.
Drayton’s main objective is to perform at his best, contribute to the national team and help Guyana make a strong impression on the international stage, with another opportunity to “wave the Golden Arrowhead high”.
Guyana will field five-member teams in the Open and Women’s divisions at the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad.
The Open squad is led by 16-year-old National Champion Candidate Master Sachin Pitamber and includes National Junior Champion Kyle Couchman, Guyana’s highest-rated player CM Taffin Khan and Drayton.
National Women’s Champion Woman Candidate Master Aditi Joshi leads the Women’s team, which also includes WCM Jessica Callender, WCM Sasha Shariff, Ciel Clement and 13-year-old Kataleya Sam. (Michelangelo Jacobus)