BVI Chess Stars Clinch Top-10 Finishes
Two young British Virgin Islands chess players achieved top-ten finishes at the inaugural Caribbean Chess Cup in Aruba. Anferny Raheem Hodge placed fourth and captured the Best Under-16 Male medal, while Dimitri Fungfook finished ninth in the regional tournament.
Two of the British Virgin Islands' rising young chess talents have secured impressive top-10 finishes at the inaugural Caribbean Chess Cup held in Aruba, marking a triumphant international debut for both competitors. Anferny Raheem Hodge delivered a standout performance to finish fourth overall in a competitive field of 21 regional players.
Entering the tournament ranked 14th, Hodge consistently outperformed his seed, accumulating 5.5 points across nine games. His stellar run also earned him the prestigious Best Under-16 Male medal. Teammate Dimitri Fungfook also exceeded expectations. Fungfook entered the competition seeded 13th and climbed into ninth place after securing 4.5 points throughout the tournament.
In a unique conclusion to the event, the two BVI representatives were paired against each other in the ninth and final round, battling to a hard-fought draw. The tournament in Aruba marked the first time both Hodge and Fungfook competed in an official international over-the-board chess competition.
The delegation returned home to the territory on August 25 with valuable experience under their belts. The regional outing served as vital preparation for Team BVI ahead of their upcoming appearance at the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The national delegation is scheduled to depart the territory on September 11 to participate in the prestigious biennial tournament, which stands as one of the most significant global events on the international chess calendar.
According to the BVI Chess Federation, the players' participation in Aruba was made possible through crucial sponsorship from FIDE Americas and the Georges-Rhymer Institute for Public Policy. The institute's support was dedicated in honour of the late former Deputy Governor Elton Georges, OBE, who served as a founding member of the BVI Chess Federation.
The federation expressed pride in the players' achievements and encouraged the wider community to rally behind Team BVI as they prepare to take on the world stage in Uzbekistan.
Primary source: BVI News