Turks & Caicos on chess map!

Turks & Caicos is an island of 45,000, yet big things are happening there. Jamaica’s Ian Wilkinson, a member of the elite corps of attorneys known as the “King’s Counsel” (KC) has just completed a landmark legal corruption case in Turks & Caicos. That case had begun in 2009, but Wilkinson was instrumental in closing the case. While there, he also made an impact by helping to launch the Turks & Caicos Chess Federation on May 13th, 2023. Wilkinson was a long-time President of the Jamaican Chess Federation and still serves as part of its board.

He has also had a hand in launching a swath of Caribbean federations such as Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, St. Kitts and Nevis, Grenada, and the Cayman Islands. Wilkinson told The Chess Drum, “To add some balance to the Caribbean, we now have a lot of English-speaking federations.” He also adds that his mission is “almost complete.” Indeed. Jamaica is still vying for its first homegrown Grandmaster, but now there is more competition… something Wilkinson certainly doesn’t mind.