By Travis Seymour
The inaugural Caribbean Community Classic Chess tournament, organized to commemorate the 50th anniversary of CARICOM, commenced on Sunday at the Ramada Princess Hotel, marking a significant milestone for chess enthusiasts across the region.
Taking place until the 8th of the month, the tournament began earlier in the day at the Demerara Room of the Ramada Princess Hotel, featuring participants from eight Caribbean countries.
Among the local players representing Guyana are FIDE master Anthony Drayton, along with national champions Taffin Khan, Jessica Callender, and Shazeeda Rahim in the seniors category, and Keron Sandiford, Kyle Couchman, Sasha Shariff, and Aditi Joshi in the juniors category.
The participating countries include the Bahamas, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Jamaica, St Lucia, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, fostering sportsmanship and cultural exchanges among the chess community.
President of the Guyana Chess Federation, Anand Ragnauth, expressed pride in the federation’s initiative to organize and host the tournament, highlighting the bold step taken to promote chess within the region.
This regional chess tournament is a collaborative effort involving CARICOM, the Caribbean Chess Association, and the world chess governing body FIDE, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation in promoting the sport.
Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr., commended CARICOM for its support of the initiative, recognizing the tournament’s significance in fostering regional integration through sports.
Deputy Secretary-General Dr. Armstrong Alexis welcomed the participating delegations, emphasizing the tournament’s alignment with the efforts of CARICOM Heads of Government to leverage sports as a platform for regional unity and collaboration.
A distinguished guest at the tournament is FIDE Deputy President and former five-time world champion, Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand, adding prestige to the event.
Sponsored by ExxonMobil, E-Net, Texila American University, and the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport, the CARICOM Classic Chess Tournament promises thrilling matches and camaraderie among players from across the Caribbean.