GCF kicks off 2026 calendar with National U-12 Rapid Chess Championships

Guyana will kick off its 2026 chess season with the National Under-12 Rapid Chess Championships sponsored under the MOO! Milk brand on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 09:30h at the new ACADO Building, Heroes Highway, Rome, East Bank Demerara.
The Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) anticipates a turnout of fifty-plus children vying for the top prizes in the age categories of U-12, U-10, and U-8.
The championship will be contested separately in boys’ and girls’ categories over seven rounds in a Swiss format, with a time control of 15 minutes plus a five-second increment per move.
This year’s event is expected to be highly competitive, as defending champions Abel Fernandez and Kataleya Sam will not return to defend their titles, having aged out of the Under-12 competition.
In the Boys’ Championship, several junior players are tipped as strong title contenders, including Javier Davenand, Vir Narine, Aiden Tinnie, and Arian Tinnie, among others.

The Girls’ Championship will feature capable competitors such as Saura Ruplall, Amy Ramphal, and Divya Persaud, who are expected to draw on their depth of knowledge and tournament experience.
Trophies will be awarded to the top three finishers in both the Boys’ and Girls’ Championships. Additional trophies and medals will be presented to the top three positions in the Under-10 and Under-8 categories, for both boys and girls.
The GCF extends its sincere gratitude to ACADO Guyana for its unwavering support of junior chess.
“Through the MOO! Milk brand, their steadfast sponsorship has been instrumental in fostering young talent over the years. Following last year’s record-breaking turnout – the largest ever for an Under-12 tournament – the GCF looks forward to welcoming even more participants this year,” the GCF stated in its media release.