The Tribune

THE Bahamas Chess Federation (BCF) proudly announces the successful return of its chess masters from the 45th World Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary.

Competing alongside teams from over 190 countries, our team showcased exceptional skill and determination in this prestigious event, comprising five open and five women players.

This year’s women’s team was among the strongest ever fielded by the BCF, featuring woman FIDE master Polina Karelina, woman candidate masters Nelissa Thomas and Daijah Johnson, Chika Pride and Diana Williams. 

The Open team featured the exceptional FIDE master Cecil Moncur, Joseph Ferguson, national champion Avian Pride, Chappell Whyms and Francis Skinner. 

A standout moment of the tournament was when three players earned new FIDE titles based on their performances. 

Chika Pride, the youngest team member and now the youngest woman candidate master in the country, candidate master Chapell Whyms, a commander in the RBDF, and candidate master Joseph Ferguson, a professor at the University of The Bahamas. 

Key individual performances include WFM Polina Karelina’s impressive achievement on Board 1, winning seven out of 11 games. FM Cecil Moncur secured notable victories against top-tier players, while national champion Avian Pride earned 4.5 points out of six in his debut Olympiad, facing strong opponents. 

Additionally, Francis Skinner came close to achieving his candidate master title. Altogether Team Bahamas accumulated an impressive 37 points in this tournament. 

The team’s dedication along with the guidance of their trainers and captains FM Winston Cu Hor and GM Darcy Lima, and team management by the head of the delegation Elton Joseph played a vital role in their achievements.

In addition to the competitive matches, the Olympiad featured significant side events. 

FIDE America and regional organisations provided live updates and coverage of the tournament. 

At the same time, the FIDE Congress included vital meetings on topics such as women’s chess, chess in education and trainers’ ethics. BCF president Curtis Pride Sr. actively participated in these important discussions.

As we celebrate these accomplishments, the BCF remains committed to developing professional chess players in The Bahamas and helping our nation develop 21st-century skills. 

The BCF also plans to launch its new Chess for Country programme to prepare and enable competitive Bahamian chess players to represent The Bahamas worldwide.