Couchman and Singh reign supreme at April Open Chess

The 16th edition of the April Open Chess Tournament concluded in Georgetown this week, signalling a changing of the guard in Guyanese chess as youthful brilliance overthrew seasoned experience across both major categories.

In the Open division, Kyle Couchman delivered a performance of clinical precision to secure his first-ever April Open crown. Couchman amassed a commanding 7.5 points from a possible nine, navigating a field of Guyana’s elite to claim the top prize of $300,000.

While Couchman took the spotlight, the chasing pack remained locked in a fierce battle for the podium as Keron Sandiford demonstrated remarkable discipline to take second place with a solid seven points.

Candidate Master Ronuel Greenidge snatched third on tie-breaks, narrowly edging out former National Champion Taffin Khan after both finished level on points.

Special honours were also reserved for Rudy Jadoopat, who was named Best Newcomer, while Alexander Zhang earned the Bravest Junior award for his fearless leap into the senior ranks.

The Junior category witnessed a near-perfect display from rising star Matthew Singh. Singh dropped only half a point across nine rounds, finishing with a staggering 8.5/9 to claim his first major tournament victory.

Nicholas Zhang of Queen’s College followed in second place with 7.5 points, further cementing his reputation as one of the country’s most reliable young talents. Kataleya Sam, who is currently preparing to represent Guyana at the upcoming Chess Olympiad, rounded out the top three.

The depth of the junior field was on full display as Dominic Sam secured fourth place in a successful return to competitive play, while 12-year-old Javier Davenand finished fifth to prove he can punch well above his weight class.

Additional accolades were presented to Mark DeFreitas for Best Under-12 and Axela Vieira, who took home the Best Female award following a spirited five-point performance.

Kaleb Ramchandar was recognised as the category’s Best Newcomer, while the youngest player of the tournament, seven-year-old Jayon Sookram, impressed onlookers by scoring 2.5 points in his competitive debut.

Reflecting on sixteen years of competition, tournament organisers credited the Guyana Chess Federation and a local roster of sponsors—including DesignersHouse and Victoria Law Chambers—for fostering a pathway to international representation.