The 45th Chess Olympiad, hosted in Budapest, Hungary, has been a remarkable event for the British Virgin Islands (BVI) Chess team.
In an extraordinary Round 5 performance on Sunday, September 15, BVI Chess had a record-breaking day, achieving its highest number of individual and team wins to date, scoring an impressive 5.5 points. Both the Women’s and Open Division teams delivered standout performances, marking a significant moment in the territory’s chess history.
The BVI Women’s team, participating for the first time in a Chess Olympiad, had a sensational day in Round 5. 13-year-old Tiandra Scatliffe became the first Virgin Islands female to score at a Chess Olympiad. In her debut on this grand stage, the Elmore Stoutt High School student clinched her victory against her Grenadian opponent, highlighting the immense talent within the BVI. Jasmin Brito and Alexis Ganigan also led the charge with their individual victories, while Deniqua McSheene turned in her best performance of the tournament.
In the Open Division, Jordan Hinds, competing in his debut Olympiad, claimed his second win of the tournament in a tense match against Niger. Hinds, a senior at the Elmore Stoutt High School, first tasted victory in Round 3 when he scored his first-ever Olympiad win against Estelle Mbengo Prisca of Senegal.
Simon Potter added to the team’s success with a brilliant game that ended in victory, while Art Christopher’s five-hour marathon on the board resulted in a hard-earned draw. Shamoy Joseph also delivered an impressive performance, contributing to the team’s best showing so far. The BVI’s first victory came in Round 3 at the hands of Jhon Samuel against Bermuda.