Chess tournaments resume with U-16 rapid on July 3

Thehas Rithmitha Kiringoda, gold medallist in the 2023 Under-9 World Schools Chess Championship, smiling and holding his winning trophy while draped in the flag of Sri Lanka, the country of his birth. He was the 21st seed among 61 players from 24 countries. (Photo: Sagar Shah)

The Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) has officially resumed its schedule of tournaments for 2023. The tournaments will begin with a National Under-16 rapid  competition on Caricom Day, Monday July 3, at the Marian Academy, Thomas Lands. It will be seven rounds with a time limit of 20 minutes plus 5 seconds increment and will last from 09:00 hrs to 16:30 hrs.  The tournament fee of $2,000 will be applicable to non-members of the GCF. Members of the GCF will be admitted free of charge to the tournament. Trophies will be awarded as prizes to the first three finishers, in addition to the Best Under 8, 10 and 12 girls. Only online registration will be accepted with a deadline date of Sunday July 2 at 5:00 pm. The GCF has been placing emphasis on junior chess over the years, and now more than ever. Naturally, it is where Guyana’s chess future lies. Recently, Thehas Rithmitha Kiringoda, born 2014, won the 2023 Under-9 World School Chess Championship in Sri Lanka with a score of 7½ points from nine games. What an achievement! During an interview, Kiringoda said his elder sister taught him the game, and he was fascinated with the movement of the pieces on the chess board.