National Chess Champions, Candidate Master Taffin Khan and Woman Candidate Master Jessica Callender will participate in the upcoming 2025 Subzone 2.3.3 Absolute & Women Chess Championships in the vibrant twin island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. The Trinidad and Tobago Chess Association (TTCA) will host the competition at the Cascadia Hotel and Conference Centre in St. Ann’s from April 11th to April 18th, 2025.
CM Khan will compete in the Absolute category, while WCM Callender will compete against her female counterparts in the Women’s category. Khan, with an ELO rating of 2023, is Guyana’s top-rated player and the reigning National Chess Champion. Khan will compete against the Caribbean’s best for a chance to win, improve his game, and earn rating points. Khan has proven his mettle over the years in Guyana, both in the classical and rapid competitions. He will now play in the Swiss competition with a time control of 90 minutes with 30 30-second increments per move, his strongest suit.
Callender, who has an ELO rating of 1568, will also have the opportunity to elevate her game and accrue rating points as she faces formidable competition from the Caribbean’s elite female chess players. Callender, who reigned as National Women’s Champion for 2023 and 2024, was selected in January 2025 to represent Guyana.
Cash prizes amounting to US$3000 and US$2250 are up for grabs in the
Absolute and Women’s categories, respectively. Eligible players can gain titles and norms per FIDE regulations.
The 2025 SUBZONE 2.3.3 Absolute & Women Chess Championships are open to players who represent national chess federations from Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Ned. Antilles, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The winner in each category will automatically qualify for the next FIDE World Cup. CM Taffin Khan and WCM Jessica Callender now proceed to Port of Spain with the full support and confidence of the Guyana Chess Federation that they would do us all proud.
The GCF’s President, Anand Raghunauth, continues to advocate for players to improve their games through international competition. The opportunities afforded to players who excel in chess continue to grow as the GCF strives to build an environment conducive to the advancement and progress of chess.
