Caribbean
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Shreyas Smith takes Jamaican title with 9/9
FM Shreyas Smith won his fifth Jamaican national title with a scintillating performance. At 27, he was the “senior” member of the national team in Budapest Olympiad. Smith is also one of the mainstays on the national scene. FM Shreyas SmithPhoto Shreyas Smith (lichess.org) At the 2024 Jamaica National Championship,…
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African Diaspora @ Budapest Olympiad!
The African Diaspora was again in full force to compete at the Chess Olympiad for honors. Twenty years ago, little attention was paid to smaller nations, and almost no photographs were taken of players and delegates. Photographers and mainstream chess websites focused primarily on the top boards as if there…
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Jamaican Chess dons post-Olympiad energy
The Jamaican chess delegation trekked to Budapest, Hungary, for the 45th Chess Olympiad. The island nation sent two teams, with former president Ian Wilkinson as head of the delegation. The event marked the 100th anniversary of FIDE, the world’s governing chess body. The Chess Drum got a chance to chat with members…
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Jamaica’s Wilkinson re-elected to FIDE post
Ian Wilkinson, attending his 11th straight Olympiad, was re-elected as a member of the FIDE Constitutional Commission (CC). He described the vote as being ‘hotly contested.‘ Wilkinson comes with some history in FIDE, having served eight years on the Ethics Commission and even running as Vice President in the 2022 Election.…
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Mathurin wins St. Lucia Chess Invitational!
FM Nathaniel Mathurin won the St. Lucia Chess Invitational, which attracted players from neighboring Dominica. Dominating the field with 9/9 and winning by a massive three points, Mathurin affirmed his position as the island’s top player. He holds a FIDE rating of 1950. Justin James was second on 6/9. Kaieem…
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2024 Dominica Chess Championships
Dominica The island of Dominica recently held its National Chess Championships, including its first Women’s Finals from May 30th to June 6th. The venue was the Dominica State College, which attracted the island’s best. In fact, Dr. Jones Murphy, Jr. came from the U.S. to compete in the tournament for…
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Warren Seymour, legend of Bahamian chess, dies
According to press reports, Bahamas chess legend Warren Seymour passed away Tuesday morning, and the country now mourns his loss. If anyone can be called the “father” of Bahamaian chess, it would be Mr. Seymour. He is widely known in the country as one who single-handedly put chess on the…
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Trinidad & Tobago takes 1st CARICOM Chess Classic!
The 1st CARICOM Chess Classic took place in Georgetown, Guyana, a nation with a rich chess tradition. Guyana was previously a regional powerhouse with a number of strong masters. More recently, the federation has rejuvenated and has launched an initiative that will bring shades of the old Caribbean Chess Championships…
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Turks & Caicos on chess map!
Ian Wilkinson leaving the Women’s World Cup held in Australia. The Jamaicans made the round of 16.Photo courtesy of Ian Wilkinson 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…
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Drum chats with FM Warren Elliott
The Chess Drum visited the Pan-Am Youth Chess Festival held in Chicago and was able to have a chat with FM Warren Elliott, part of the Jamaica delegation. During this brief discussion, he mentioned his reason for being at the event, the current state of chess in Jamaica, the future…
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