Under-12 players rewarded for outstanding performances in DeSinco Rapid Chess Championships

Winners of the National Under-12 Rapid Chess Championships were, for their outstanding performances, rewarded with trophies, medals, gift bags and certificates across the various categories in a ceremony held at the Grand Coastal Inn at Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara.

The 7-round Rapid tournament concluded on Saturday January 15th with Alexander Zhang earning the U12 national title and Kristin Xavier becoming the first ever U12 female champion.

Notably, these championships were not held since 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and this was also the first time they had been held online.

The Guyana Chess Federation has praised the discipline and dedication of the youth and cadet players, noting their excellent performances throughout the tournament. These players are expected to participate in more tournaments throughout the year.
Frankie Farley, President of the Guyana Chess Federation, noted that, with today’s technology, it is now possible to teach the game to hundreds of youths across the country. Information and materials for persons who want to learn chess are much more accessible than they had been in the past.
Farley recalled the challenges he faced in his time as a young player: having to visit the National Library to find books on chess in the reference section. Sometimes, until it was time to leave, he would spend hours trying to understand the text, only to return the next day to find the page he was studying torn out of the book.
DeSinco’s Chief Executive Officer Alicia DeAbreu, representing DeSinco and their Lifebuoy brand, expressed her gratitude to parents of players in the tournament, thanking them for their active encouragement and support of their children in playing chess, and praising their initiative and forward-thinking in recognising the value of learning chess and all the benefits it brings to young minds. DeSinco have also given their commitment to sponsor more chess tournaments for the remainder of the year.
Anand Raghunauth, Vice-President of the Guyana Chess Federation, has urged the youths to continue participating in these tournaments, promising that more opportunities for both local and international play would arise for these young players in 2022 and onwards.
Also, he noted that the GCF’s membership has tripled over the last 3 months due to the expansion of the Chess in Schools’ programme.
As the sport begins to venture out of Georgetown, there are plans to take chess into Linden and Essequibo later this year. The Guyana Chess Federation also aims to take chess to athletes in other sports in the future, as the skill learned from chess can benefit persons in all areas.
The GCF wishes to thank all those who participated in the championships and all those who made the presentation a success. Special thanks to Mohamed Khan and family for having assisted greatly in this venture, and to the management and staff of the Grand Coastal Inn.