National Blitz Chess Championships set for Sunday

See the statement below:

GUYANA CHESS FEDERATION HOSTS THE NATIONAL BLITZ CHESS
CHAMPIONSHIPS 

The Guyana Chess Federation will sponsor and host the 2025 National Blitz Chess Championships on Sunday, March 16th, 2025, at the Pegasus Hotel and Suites’ Exhibition Centre. The competition, eagerly revived after several years, will feature a diverse field of competitors vying for the title and top prizes.

The Blitz, known for its fast-paced nature, is an even faster format than rapid, and promises to be an exciting and thrilling experience for seasoned players and newcomers alike. The eleven-round Swiss format will feature a 3-minute time control with 2-second increments added to the clock after the first move. The tournament will feature new and exciting options, such as a knockout system after the first eleven rounds.

A fierce battle for the National Blitz Chess Championship title is anticipated, with Candidate Master Taffin Khan, FIDE Master Anthony Drayton, CM Sachin Pitamber, Junior Champion Ricardo Narine, Klye Couchman, and Keron Sandiford among the top contenders. With $115,000 in cash prizes for the top five, and the unpredictable nature of blitz chess, the 2025 champion remains anyone’s guess.

As an added incentive, the Guyana Chess Federation is providing one month of complimentary Pegasus Chess Club membership to those who finish in sixth, seventh, or eighth place in the tournament. The top twelve boards will be live-streamed on livechesscloud.com under the supervision of FIDE Arbiter John Lee, permitting enthusiastic viewers to follow the games online.

The GCF expresses sincere gratitude to the Guyana Pegasus Hotel and Mr. Brandon Badal for providing the space for the tournament. Mr. Badal, a chess player himself, has thrown his unwavering support to the development of chess in Guyana. His initiative of the Pegasus Chess Club has provided a physical space for chess players to play and enjoy the game in a comfortable environment. The GCF has been actively driving competitive play since the year’s onset, delivering a steady stream of competitions for both open and female players.

For more information on the tournament, check us out on guyanachess.gy.