CARICOM's 50th Anniversary Celebrations continue with Inaugural Chess Tournament in Guyana

The CARICOM Secretariat has collaborated with the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) to present the CARICOM Classic Inaugural Chess Tournament, an international celebration of strategy, equity, and unity. This inaugural CARICOM Classic Team Chess Tournament will be held at the Ramada Georgetown Princess Hotel, Guyana, from 3 -10 March 2024 and will coincide with the 50th Anniversary celebrations of the founding of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

Dr Armstrong Alexis, Deputy Secretary-General, CARICOM, will deliver remarks at the Tournament’s opening ceremony on Sunday (3 March) and will highlight the importance of chess to building the intellectual wealth and spirit of collaboration in our Region.

While chess has cultivated intellectual development and helped to improve players’ strategic thinking, this Tournament also aims to strengthen cultural exchange through understanding and interaction among the diverse backgrounds of each country. The objective is to build lasting friendships, increase competitive play, and promote regional cooperation.

Formidable teams from nine (9) federations of CARICOM Member States and Associate members will compete for the CARICOM Championship title, medals, trophies, and cash prizes, totalling USD 3,000. Based on tournament results, First, Second, and Third place trophies will be awarded to the top three (3) CARICOM territories. Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals will be awarded to individual players of the first three CARICOM teams.

CARICOM Member States and Associate Members are being represented by forty (40) seasoned players from The Bahamas, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Dominica, the host country, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.

The Guyanese chess players will meet their international counterparts over the board in the FIDE-rated Tournament with nine (9) rounds of classical games consisting of 90 minutes with 30-second increments after each move.

Barbadian International Arbiter Kelvin Daniel will oversee the Tournament with assistance from local FIDE Arbiters John Lee, Anand Raghunauth, and Irshad Mohamad. Round one (1) is expected to start at 10 AM, and round two is at 4 PM on Monday, 4 March. Games will continue throughout the week and conclude on Saturday, 9 March.

FIDE Deputy President and Grandmaster Mr Viswanathan Anand, who will be visiting Guyana for the first time, will be the Special Guest. He will be present for the opening ceremony of the Tournament on Sunday.

The management of the GCF expressed gratitude to the CARICOM Secretariat for collaborating with the Federation to organise this historic Tournament: “The GCF is proud to be part of this partnership with the CARICOM Secretariat and hopes this initiative is the first of many to promote chess and goodwill within the Caribbean region.”

For comprehensive tournament results, visit the Tournament's website and stay connected with the Federation’s Facebook and Instagram platforms for updates on tournament results.