GCF hosts Girls’ Chess Camp in Region 3

The Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) reached a significant milestone on Saturday last as the Guyana Women in Chess Community (GWICC) successfully launched its Girls’ Chess Camp in Region Three. Hosted at the National Track and Field Center (NTFC), Leonora, West Coast Demerara (WCD), the event drew a vibrant crowd of 21 girls and educators from local institutions, including Leonora Secondary School and Qayyim Academy.

Between 10:00h and 15:00h, the stadium was transformed into a hub of strategic learning, signalling a bright future for female representation in the sport.
The workshop welcomed both newcomers and experienced players. While the girls and their teachers were introduced to the fundamentals, those already familiar with the game received advanced training. The one-day event was a resounding success; by its conclusion, every female had mastered the rules and was playing confidently. Each participant was given a booklet for beginners detailing chess rules and basic checkmate and tactics so that they can continue to learn on their own.
Led by Mrs Marcia Lee, the participants were taught the basics of chess, including checkmate and other tactical elements. Mrs Lee was aided in the coaching by CM Taffin Khan, WCM Jessica Callender, and Nellisha Johnson.
According to a missive, the GWICC aims to increase the number of girls and women in chess in Guyana. Over the years, the number of girls playing the sport has increased significantly within the federation.
The GCF wished to thank Rouge Salon and Spa, Mrs Suparna Narine, and Mrs Harrison for providing lunch, snacks, and beverages for the event.
In line with its mandate to decentralise the sport, the GCF has launched its expansion initiative in Region Three. The Federation aims to empower schools to establish their own chess clubs as a cornerstone of their extracurricular programming.
As such, they issued an open invite to all schools within the region to participate in their comprehensive training programme, designed to provide students with a robust foundation in the game.
Building on the success of the Girls’ Camp, the GCF will host its Youth Chess Training this weekend, May 9 and 10, at the Leonora Stadium. Open to both boys and girls, these sessions will run from 10:00h to 15:00h daily. This initiative will introduce students to the world of chess, specifically designed to sharpen critical thinking and strategic reasoning.
The GCF noted that it invites all Region Three schools to register their allotted number of participants; registration forms are currently available through school administrations or via the GCF’s official Facebook page.
The GCF in collaboration with the Ministry of Education (MoE) is introducing the game to schools in its chess-in-education drive as a model for strategic thinking and competition among students. As such, the GCF extended gratitude to the Ministry of Education and the Unit of Allied Arts for their support towards the programme.