John Samuel, Dimitri Fungfook and Shamoy Joseph are champions of their respective categories of the 2024 Inter-Secondary Chess Tournament.
The event, held at the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex on December 12 and 13 brought together a total of seven schools from across the territory including Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS), Bregado Flax Educational Centre, Claudia Creque Educational Centre, Cedar International School, St. George’s Secondary School, and the Virgin Islands School of Technical Studies.
Samuel won first place in the primary school category representing BVI Chess Federation, defeating second-place Timoy Scatliffe also of the BVI Chess Federation and third-place Zivon Abraham of Enis Adams Primary.
Fungfook of the Elmore Stoutt High School won the junior secondary category, ending undefeated, with Ryson Adams also of ESHS second and Chane-Ann Chin of Bregado Flax Educational Centre third.
In the senior category, Joseph of the ESHS placed first, followed by Jordan Hinds also of ESHS and Rayante Edwards of St. Georges Secondary in second and third place respectively.
In the team segment, the Elmore Stoutt High School was crowned the overall winner besting the six other schools, while Bregado Flax Educational Centre and St. George’s Secondary School earned second place in the junior and senior divisions respectively, and Cedar International School placed third in the senior division.
Speaking at the prize-giving ceremony, Minister for Education, Youth Affairs, and Sports, Hon Sharie DeCastro, lauded the students’ performances and praised the partnership between the Ministry of Education and Unite BVI which has facilitated the distribution of 238 chess kits across public and private schools, enhancing access to the sport.
Hon. DeCastro also highlighted the transformative potential of chess in education in the BVI and the many benefits that students could be expose to.
Mr Simon Potter of the BVI Chess Federation commended the support of the ministry and Unite BVI.