Pegasus Weekly Chess League begins with 7 opening-round winners

The inaugural Pegasus Weekly Chess League got underway on Monday evening at the Oasis Building, Pegasus Hotel, with seven players moving to the top of the standings after the opening round.
Ryan McKay, Raymond Sookdeo, Jessica Callender, Davion Mars, Keron Sandiford, and Sreebalakumar recorded victories, while Odinnie Reece received a point after being listed without an opponent.
McKay defeated Martin, Callender overcame Owen Mickle and Sandiford secured a win against Oluwadare Oyeyipo. Sookdeo beat Sachin Beharry, Sreebalakumar defeated Annastaysha Marcano and Mars got past Jaden Taylor.
Those six winners, along with Reece, are tied on one point after the first round. Oyeyipo, Beharry, Marcano, Martin, Mickle and Taylor remain without a point, with six rounds left in the seven-round season.
The league is an initiative of Drayton’s Chess Club and is being hosted with support from the Pegasus Chess Club and the Guyana Chess Federation.
FIDE Master Anthony Drayton, founder of Drayton’s Chess Club and the league, said the weekly competition was designed to provide an alternative to the traditional tournament format.

Under the concept, players can return each week to contest one serious game without having to commit to an entire weekend of competition. The organisers have summarised the format as “One game. Every week. Real competition.”
The opening round attracted participants from several professional and social backgrounds, including engineers, accountants, teachers, coaches, national chess players, students, entrepreneurs, a lawyer, a builder and an artist.
According to the organisers, the league is intended to accommodate established competitors while providing a practical way for returning players, working professionals, students and other chess enthusiasts to remain active. Players can compete throughout the season or, subject to registration and availability, enter individual rounds.
Plans are also in place to launch a Drayton’s Chess Club website, which is expected to become the digital home of the competition. The platform will provide access to results, standings, statistics and players’ competitive histories.
An internal league rating system is also being developed to track performances across different seasons. The system will complement, rather than replace, FIDE or national ratings.
Drayton also announced that a team competition is planned for 2027. Players will continue to compete for individual points, ratings and prizes, while their performances may also contribute to teams representing clubs and other eligible organisations.
The rules governing team composition, eligibility, scoring and the competition format will be announced later as organisers assess the league during its early seasons.
Brandon Badal was specially acknowledged for supporting the initiative, while the organisers also thanked Pegasus, the Pegasus Chess Club, the Guyana Chess Federation, invited guests, members of the media and the inaugural participants.
Round Two will be played on Monday, August 24, at the Oasis Building, Pegasus Hotel.