11-year-old Divya Persaud wins Women’s Day Rapid Chess

Eleven-year-old Divya Persaud has further cemented her reputation as one of Guyana’s most exciting junior chess prospects by winning the Women’s Day Rapid Chess Tournament.

Persaud, the reigning National U12 Girls Rapid Champion, finished the seven-round competition unbeaten, dropping just one point across two strategic draws to finish on a score of 6.0.

The New Guyana School student led a field of 24 players at the event, which was hosted by the Gambit Group in collaboration with the Guyana Chess Federation and the School of the Nations to mark International Women’s Day.

In a fast-paced ‘rapid’ format—where players have just ten minutes on the clock—Persaud showed composure beyond her years. After securing four wins, she navigated the final stages of the tournament with two tactical draws to ensure she remained clear of the chasing pack.

Marian Academy’s Tharisha Montes De Oca secured the runner-up spot with 5 points, narrowly edging out schoolmate Angelina Yhap on tiebreaks for third. Both Montes De Oca and Yhap are seasoned competitors on the junior circuit and were among the pre-tournament favourites.

The tournament also highlighted depth across the age groups as New Guyana School’s Lusianna Farlot took fourth place and the Best U16 prize, while Gabrielle Mohabir (St. Rose’s High) and Amaya Sharma (School of the Nations) claimed the U14 and U12 honours respectively.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Sasha Shariff presented the trophies, praising the “talent and strategic moves” on display throughout the day.

The event featured players from nine schools, including Marian Academy, St. Joseph High, and Christ Church Secondary, underscoring the growing popularity of the sport among young women in the region.