Guyana’s men put their difficult opening day behind them to defeat New Caledonia 3-1 in yesterday’s second round of the 2026 Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
Candidate Master Sachin Pitamber, FIDE Master Anthony Drayton and Keron Sandiford delivered the victories as Guyana collected its first two match points of the 11-round tournament.
Pitamber, rated 1991, started Guyana’s charge by defeating 1818-rated Nicolas Douyere on the top board. The Guyanese player controlled the white pieces.
Drayton also made full use of the white pieces, beating Titouan Bellier Pontais on board three. Sandiford then secured another point with the black pieces against Christian Brotons on board four.
Kyle Couchman suffered Guyana’s only defeat, losing with black to Mathieu Galois on board two.
The victory marked a strong response from the men after Wednesday’s 4-0 loss to Slovenia. Guyana’s opening-round campaign was disrupted after more than 13 hours of flight delays caused members of the delegation to arrive late in Uzbekistan, resulting in a board being forfeited.
Although the women lost 3-1 to Andorra on Thursday, Woman Candidate Master Aditi Joshi produced one of Guyana’s standout performances of the round.
The 1726-rated Joshi defeated Woman FIDE Master Andrea Henderson de La Fuente, who was rated 1982. Joshi achieved the upset while playing with the black pieces on board one.
Andorra controlled the other three boards. Julia Muratet Carmona defeated Kataleya Sam, Ariadna De la Riva Real beat Ciel Clement and Alexandra Muratet Carmona overcame Jessica Callender.
Guyana’s women are still searching for their first team victory after opening the tournament with a 4-0 defeat against Colombia. Two boards in that match were forfeited because of the delegation’s delayed arrival.
Round Three is scheduled for Friday, with the Guyanese women facing St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the men taking on Cyprus.
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