Chess 960 tournament returns to celebrate Guyana’s Diamond Jubilee

The Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) will host its annual Chess 960 Tournament on Independence Day, Tuesday, May 26, as part of the country’s landmark 60th Independence Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

Returning for a second consecutive year, the rapid-play event will be held in the Exhibition Room at the Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre in Georgetown.

What is Chess 960?

Also known as Fischer Random Chess—strongly advocated by legendary former world champion Bobby Fischer—the variant shuffles the pieces on the back rank randomly before the start of each game.

While pawns remain on their standard rows, the randomisation creates exactly 960 unique starting positions.

The format effectively neutralises memorised opening theories, forcing players to rely entirely on raw creativity and first-principles

The tournament has secured major local backing, with Pegasus Suites providing the venue and Trophy Stall sponsoring the trophies and cash prizes.

Brandon Badal, Director of Pegasus Suites and a keen chess player himself, noted that the variant truly “pushes players to think outside the box.”

Ramesh Sunich, proprietor of Trophy Stall, highlighted the surging interest in the sport across Guyana.

“More young people are becoming interested in the game, more schools are introducing chess activities, and local players continue to perform with growing confidence and skill,” Sunich said, emphasising the need for sustained public and private support to maintain the sport’s momentum.

Tournament Structure & Registration

The championship will test players under fast-paced conditions, utilising a short time control format designed to create high-intensity finishes.

The GCF has confirmed that the registration deadline is Monday, May 25, at 17:00hrs. Players can sign up via the registration link on the Guyana Chess Federation’s Facebook page, with fee payments processed through MMG.

Live pairings, standings, and official results will be tracked throughout the day on chessresults.com.