This year’s National Women’s Chess Championship title will remain with Jessica Callender for a second consecutive year, as she successfully defended her 2023 title against the nine female players who contested the qualifying games to vie for national honours.
The Diamond Insurance-sponsored round-robin competition was held at the National Racquet Centre on April 27th and 28th, and continued on May 1st, 4th, and 5th, 2024. The ten players faced each other in the nine rounds to secure the maximum points towards gaining the title.
Jessica Callender successfully defended her Women’s Chess Championship title
The final round of the championship tested the true mettle of the defending women’s champion when she met her most determined opponent, Aditi Joshi. The two female players entered the round with even scores, but Callender prevailed over her 13-year-old opponent in a struggle that lasted four hours and almost 60 moves.
With the white pieces, Callender brought out her King Knight on move one, and a quiet battle soon erupted on the chessboard; Callender retained her two powerful, long-range Bishops, a better match for Joshi’s Bishop and Knight. In her weakened position, Joshi’s pawns became the first casualties, and she eventually lost a Knight as she fought back in a fruitless endgame struggle.
With extra material gained, a confident Callender went after Joshi’s King, with checkmate soon to follow. But Joshi capitulated and conceded the game, giving Callender the much-needed win.
Callender lost a single game against Nellisha Johnson in the second round of the tournament, gaining 8 out of 9 points. Joshi placed second with seven points, while Sasha Shariff and Treskole Archibald tied with six points to place 3rd and fourth respectively. Fifth place of the tournament went to Ciel Clement.
The women’s results, based on the 6th to 10th ranking in said order, are Nellisha Johnson, Parnita Kishun, Chelsea Harrison, Emma John, and Shazeeda Rahim. Rahim was unable to complete the tournament due to personal reasons.
The Guyana Chess Federation has extended congratulations to the participants of the women’s tournament on a well-played round of matches; has expressed gratitude to the tournament’s Directors and Arbiters, John Lee (Chief) and Anand Raghunauth, for their dedication and support; and gratitude to the National Sports Commission for the use of the tournament venue. The GCF also thanks Diamond Insurance for sponsoring the National Women’s Chess Qualifiers and Chess Championship. For more information on upcoming tournament details, please visit the GCF website at
