THE Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) was forced to adapt after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Covid-19 as a pandemic, in March of 2020. However, unlike a number of other local sporting bodies, it not only continues its programmes, but was also able to transform the sport via the online route.
President of the GCF, Frankie Farley, told Chronicle Sport that the “GCF see the pandemic as a blessing in disguise”.
“We were forced to seek virtual solutions to keep the sport alive and active, hence, the number of online initiatives.”
Among the initiatives was the appointment of the Indian International Master, Atanu Lahiri.

The former Commonwealth chess champion, who had stints as head coach of Nepal (2005) and Bhutan (2014) before he took charge of the Indian Youth, Junior and Cadet teams, has been working with approximately 40 youngsters at the U-20 and U-16 (which include some strong U-12 players) levels weekly since early October.
Farley said that the young players have dramatically improved, which has prompted the federation to extend Lahiri’s sessions throughout 2021.
“Junior chess is in the embryo stages and we have the young players training under the International Master, the highest level of training they have ever received.”
The high-level training propelled Guyana to honours last December in the FIDE Online World U10-18 Rapid Championships.

In that event, 11 of the 13 youngsters that represented Guyana registered victories. Seventeen-year-old Angel Rahim led the charge after she won four of her seven games to finish seventh overall in the Girls’ U-18 division. Arysh Raghunauth, Ethan Lee, Jaden Taylor and Anaya Lall had finished with two wins each, while Kyle Couchman, Ronan Lee, Joshua Khan, Harmony Dodson, Anasie Fredericks and Sasha Shariff ended with a win apiece. A number of new faces were also introduced to the game during the lockdown and they have continued to develop through specific programmes implemented by the federation.

EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC
The main hindrance caused by the global lockdown was the cancellation or postponement of several international and regional competitions and the inevitable suspension of over-the-board local competitions. Farley noted that among the major issues was the cancellation of the 44th Chess Olympiad, which was scheduled to take place in Moscow, Russia last August. That event was rescheduled to mid-2021.
The FIDE Candidates Tournament 2020, held in Yekaterinburg, Russia, was also suspended at the mid-point of the tournament on March 26, while the 2020 CARIFTA Chess Tournament, which was scheduled for last April in Guyana, was also postponed, and subsequently cancelled.

MOVING FORWARD
Farley noted that moving forward, the federation would continue to develop the game at the junior level.
“The momentum of the Chess-in-School programme is definitely the catalyst to raise the level of play among our juniors. We are seeing a higher level of play among our junior players.”
Farley added that the GCF would continue with aggressive programmes in all ten administrative regions this year and focus on youth, women in chess and the differently abled.
“We will be partnering with the private sector to create the GCF scholarship fund for primary and secondary school students in Guyana. The hope is for the scholarship programme to be a motivational factor to encourage our youths to play. In the coming years, we will extend the programme to the University of Guyana.”