Five-time Olympian Anthony Drayton and 13-year-old debutant Kataleya Sam will be among the 10 players carrying Guyana’s hopes at the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
The national delegation, comprising five Open and five Women’s players, will depart this weekend ahead of the September 15 start. The global competition will continue until September 27.
Drayton will lead an Open team that includes Taffin Khan, Sachin Pitamber, Keron Sandiford and Kyle Couchman. Guyana’s Women’s team will feature Jessica Callender, Aditi Joshi, Sasha Shariff, Sam and Ciel Clement.
The squad combines established international experience with emerging talent. Drayton will make his fifth Olympiad appearance, while Sam will compete at the prestigious tournament for the first time.
Sam said she is determined to meet the challenge, despite being aware that every participating team will be seeking victory.
“The value I take into these games will be to use every ounce of courage and skill I have gained throughout my training to defeat my opponents,” she said.
The teenager added that she is not easily intimidated by her small stature and is prepared to go “all the way,” even if she is paired against a grandmaster.
Drayton views his selection as an opportunity to represent something larger than himself. He plans to compete with discipline, resilience and the same commitment he has shown towards helping to develop younger Guyanese players.
Each member of the delegation has identified a personal quality that will guide their performance in Samarkand.
Khan will depend on “unyielding resilience” and has promised to fight for every move in honour of the Golden Arrowhead. Pitamber will carry determination into the tournament as he seeks to prove himself at the highest level.
Sandiford believes perseverance will help him continue pushing for positive results, regardless of how the tournament develops. Couchman has placed consistency at the centre of his approach and intends to remain focused under pressure in every round.
Shariff will combine her competitive ambitions with integrity, sportsmanship and dedication. She said her goal is to produce her best effort and represent Guyana with honour in every match.
Callender, an experienced international competitor, believes tenacity will be her most important attribute. She noted that tournament circumstances will not always favour the team, but every game provides another chance to fight for a result.
Joshi will also rely on resilience as she attempts to use her developing skills to secure wins and keep the Guyana flag flying high.
For Clement, respect will guide her Olympiad campaign. She intends to show respect for her opponents, the competition’s rules, the game itself, her preparation and the country that has supported her journey.
Guyana has maintained an unbroken presence at the biennial Chess Olympiad since 2014, after organised chess was revived locally during the mid-2000s.
The players will now take their preparation and individual ambitions onto the international stage, where every move and result will contribute to Guyana’s overall campaign.
The Guyana Chess Federation has acknowledged the support of FIDE, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and ENet in making the team’s participation possible.
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