Khan and Joshi begin title defence as National Chess Championships get underway

The hunt for Guyanese chess supremacy has begun at the David Rose Special School, as the Jumbo Jet National Open and Diamond Fire Women’s Championships commenced Saturday.

With twenty of the nation’s finest players gathered for the nine-round round-robin marathon, the narrative is clear: can the established guard hold off a surging wave of junior talent?

In the Open section, defending champion CM Taffin Khan faces a “who’s who” of Guyanese chess. Khan, a veteran of the 64 squares, finds himself in the crosshairs of seasoned rivals like FM Anthony Drayton and CM Ronuel Greenidge.

However, the real intrigue lies in the “Junior Titans.” Reigning National Junior Champion Kyle Couchman and U16 standout CM Sachin Pitamber are no longer just prospects—they are genuine threats to Khan’s throne.

The Women’s Championship features a unique brand of drama for defending champion WCM Aditi Joshi. While her opponents are calculating variations on the board, Joshi is also navigating the pressures of her academic examinations.

Her path to a second title is far from clear. Former champions WCM Sasha Shariff and WCM Jessica Callender are back with a point to prove, while 10-year-old prodigy Kataleya Sam—the current U14 and U16 champion—seeks to become one of the youngest senior champions in the federation’s history.

The stakes are high, with a classical time control of 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment ensuring every move is under the microscope.

As the first four rounds conclude this weekend, the Guyana Chess Federation has extended its thanks to sponsors Jumbo Jet Auto Sales and Diamond Fire Insurance for their continued backing of the sport.

The championship is set to conclude over the next two weekends.