BVI Chess Team Triumphs in Caribbean Cup
The British Virgin Islands National Chess Team achieved a perfect start in the Caribbean Chess Cup, with members Anferny Raheem Hodge and Dimitri Fungfook winning their opening matches. This marks their debut in international competition as they prepare for the upcoming Chess Olympiad.
The British Virgin Islands National Chess Team made a formidable entry into the Caribbean Chess Cup last night, celebrating a clean sweep in the first round of matches. Open Team players Anferny Raheem Hodge and Dimitri Fungfook both secured victories against their opponents from Aruba in the Under-18 category, setting a positive tone for the tournament.
Hodge and Fungfook, students at Elmore Stoutt High School, are not only the youngest members of the BVI Open Team but are also participating in their first international over-the-board chess competition. Their performances are not merely a display of individual talent; they represent a significant opportunity for the players to begin establishing their international FIDE ratings by competing against rated players.
The Caribbean Chess Cup runs until August 23, with two rounds scheduled daily for a total of nine rounds. This event provides essential international exposure for the BVI's unrated players, enriching their experience as they face off against talented competitors from across the Americas.
Such opportunities are pivotal for Team BVI as they gear up for the 46th Chess Olympiad, set to take place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan from September 15 to 27, 2026. The BVI Chess Federation has meticulously prepared for this Olympiad by introducing a comprehensive training programme.
This included the participation of players from the Brigade Flax Educational Centre, such as Kiara Phillip and Makalia Fergus, who attended a tournament in Peru at the end of June. Weekly professional training sessions led by international coaches have also formed part of this initiative, aiming to build the players' confidence and experience.
Maurice Lettsome, President of the BVI Chess Federation, has emphasized the importance of providing players with experience outside their usual competition environment. "Our newer national-team players are gaining valuable exposure against players from across the Americas and the Caribbean.
This preparation supports our overall performance at the Olympiad and helps prepare them for what will be their most challenging competition," Lettsome stated. At the Olympiad, BVI will field both a Women's Team and an Open Team. The Women’s National Team, which is being coached by Colombian trainer and International Woman Master Angela Franco, will compete alongside the Open Team, overseen by French-Egyptian Grandmaster Samy Shoker and captain Art Christopher.
The support of FIDE Americas, the regional governing body for chess in the Americas, and the Georges-Rhymer Institute for Public Policy has been crucial in facilitating the BVI’s participation in the Caribbean Chess Cup. This event is especially meaningful as it honors Elton Georges, OBE, former Deputy Governor and founding member of the BVI Chess Federation.
In Aruba, Hodge and Fungfook are being chaperoned by BVICF Delegate Sachkia Barnes. The BVI Chess Federation encourages the public to follow team updates, tournament news, and ways to support Team BVI by visiting their Facebook page at /bvichess.
Primary source: BVI Platinum