Candidate Master Sachin Pitamber and Italy Ton-Chung will represent Guyana in Chess at the IV South American Youth Games in Panama as part of the country’s delegation, courtesy of the Guyana Olympic Association.
The 2026 games will be held from April 12-25 with rapid and blitz chess competitions being played from April 23-25 at the Metropolis Hall in the Decapolis Hotel, Panama City.
The two players will be accompanied by Coach Anthony Drayton. Fresh off his victory at the 2026 National Open Chess Championship, 15-year-old Pitamber is preparing to represent Guyana on the international stage in Panama.
The Queen’s College student, who also holds the National Under-16 title, is no stranger to high-stakes play, having represented Guyana in numerous international tournaments, notably the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary, in 2024 where he gained his Candidate Master title.
As the youngest Candidate Master in Guyana’s history, Pitamber’s resume is formidable. He was a driving force behind Guyana’s gold medal victory at the Inter-Guiana Games last December and remains a dominant fixture on the top boards of local competition.
Pitamber enters the South American Youth Games well-equipped to face the region’s elite talent.
A seasoned competitor on both the local and international stages, Ton-Chung is set to represent Guyana with distinction at the upcoming tournament in Panama.
Known for her resilience in standard time controls, the 18-year-old University of Guyana student will look to leverage her extensive over the-board experience against her opponents.
A key member of the female team of the Inter-Guiana Games last December, Italy remains one of the top-ranking junior female players in the local chess community.
FM Drayton, one of Guyana’s most seasoned players and respected coaches, will serve as the national coach for this tournament.
No stranger to the role, having travelled with the junior team as their mentor on numerous occasions, Drayton will aim to provide training and guidance to the two young athletes as they represent Guyana in Panama.
The Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) extends its sincere gratitude to the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) for its vital support in including chess within the national delegation.
The GCF looks forward to a successful campaign in Panama and wishes the entire Guyanese contingent the very best of luck across all sporting disciplines.
“We are proud to see our players compete alongside Guyana’s finest athletes,” the GCF said.
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