Events
A Resurgence of Chess in the Virgin Islands!
2024
Despite many obstacles in 2024, dedicated VI chess players have kept VI chess alive and flourishing!
On October 26-27, the STT/STJ Youth Scholastic Chess Club sponsored a scholastic tournament at Lockwood Elementary School in St. Thomas. Many students attended and it was a huge success!


In May, John Dempsey, president of the Wandering Dragons Chess Club, participated in an open USCF rated tournament in Salisbury, MD. He was invited as one of the VI chess freedom fighters to demonstrate their support our struggle to restore fairness and democracy to VI chess. John did VI proud by winning the tournament!

On November 16-17, a group of devoted VI Chess Freedom Fighters traveled as a team to Shippensburg University to participate in a USCF rated tournament. Since Margaret Murphy has banned USCF rated tournaments in the territory, serious VI chess players who want to maintain and improve their USCF ratings are forced to incur the expense of traveling off island to do so. Out of 13 teams, our VI team came in third!

The Mastermind Challenge Chess Tournament sponsored by the VI Chess Freedom Fighters on October 19-20, 2024 was a huge success. There were 17 participants including 4 women and 3 students. Several students were unable to attend because of conflicting school activities. Seven VI women players who expressed interest in participating were unable due to work or travel. The interaction of VI chess players was exhilarating, challenging, and fun. Everyone present expressed a desire to keep these tournaments going on a regular basis. So, a second tournament is planned for December. In the attached photo are nine of the seventeen participants. The others drifted off after finishing their final game. Winners were Mighty Funtanilla, 1st Place, Jeremy Thibodeaux 2nd Place, and tied for 3rd Place were Okemo Hodge, Victor Sanchez, and John Dempsey. In the meantime, the new leadership of the USVI Chess Federation is conducting an online chess tournament via chess.com with the St. Croix Valley Chess Club in Minnesota. Anyone interested in joining please go to https://www.chess.com/club/matches/st-croix-valley-chess-club/1691759 Many huge thanks to Area Code Sports Bar for hosting this tournament, past tournaments, and for committing to hosting future tournaments. Their air-conditioned space, coffee, wonderful staff, and delicious food & drinks highlighted a long weekend of fun mental exertion! 😊



United States Chess Federation sponsored K-12 National Youth Scholastic Chess tournament. 2024
Twenty-two students who are members of the St. Thomas/St. John Youth Scholastic Chess Club traveled to Baltimore, Maryland, on April 4 to April 8 and participated in a United States Chess Federation sponsored K-12 National Youth Scholastic Chess tournament.
“Our students returned home on April 9 with four of the top medals (Bronze) that were won by four of our students in their respective divisions,” Chess Coach Sinclair Wilkinson said.
Nearly 2000 students from across our nation participated in this elite educational competitive chess tournament.
In the attached picture, these bronze medal winners are:
Left to right
1. Abram Williams—Home School
2. L’Renzo Abraham—Ivanna Eudora Kean High
3. Ajay Mirpuri--Antilles
4. Eli Blondeau--Antilles
Many accolades were presented to the five students from Charlotte Amalie High School for their overall performance as a team.
This all- 9th grade team placed 12th overall out of 36 teams in the unrated section, in the team category.
“Much applause should also be given to Kamani Knight, a student from the Complex school on St. Croix who traveled with our students and participated in this K-12 event,” Wilinkson said.
“Many thanks and appreciation to all people and businesses in our community who made it possible for our students to travel and participate in this educational event,” Wilkinson said.
The students will now begin to prepare for the Super Nationals that will be held in Olando, Florida in 2025. Over 10,000 students are expected to participate in this event.
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2023
The "Summer Sizzler" US Chess rated tournament took place on July 29-30, 2023, at Area Code Sports Bar. Kimani Knight took first place, winning all five of his games. Patrick Miller and Ben ___ tied for second and third place.





The UVI Royal Guard Chess Club on the Albert A. Sheen campus hosted a campus tournament on April 15-16, 2023. There were a total of six talented participants, Cameron Brooks, Kai Figaro, Shane Monchery, Aaliah Saret, Matthias Sinanan, and Adonai Smith. After a total of four hard-fought rounds, Adonai Smith claimed the title of Campus Champion. The other winners were:
3rd Place: Shane Monchery
2nd Place: Aaliah Saret
1st Place: Adonai Smith 2023 Campus Champion
Prizes included chess books and memberships in the US Chess Federation.


A video and some photos from our "Just for Fun Simultaneous Tournament" at Tullies on April 22nd.





Unrated Comradery Tournament at Area Code Sports Bar
April 7-8, 2023
This tournament was just for fun and to give inexperienced players an opportunity to practice notation and use a clock. It started out with 12 participants, ended up with 15 and two observers who play, didn't realize there was any chess going on in STX and intend to join a USVICA club and start playing more regularly. It is truly amazing how the number of strong players scattered throughout St. Croix are coming together and discovering the deep and meaningful connections that chess provokes.











The National K-12 Scholastic Chess Tournament
A total of twelve students from the U.S Virgin Islands participated in the National K-12 Scholastic Chess tournament in Washington DC, from March 31st to April 3rd and returned home on April 4th, with much accolade. This national event was organized by the United States Chess Federation.
This year, over three thousand of the best chess playing students from across our nation and the U.S. Virgin Islands, merged at the Hilton Hotel in Washington DC. to represent their states, schools, and clubs. This was a seven round chess tournament that lasted for four days. The 12 student participants from our Youth Scholastic Chess Club on St. Thomas (STYSCC), and members of the Virgin Islands Chess Association achieved an overall performance that was nothing short of commendable. Our students were often praised by many coaches on the national level for their playing abilities and overall attitude.
In a seven round National chess tournament, any score that is 3.5 or better is a good score.
Overall Performance
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7 of our 12 students scored a 3.5 or better.
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1 student, Abram Williams, who is home schooled, scored in all his games and won a bronze medal with a 5.5-point score. He received his medal on the big stage in the presence of thousands of students and coaches, and he represented the Virgin Islands with pride. He was also placed 3rd in the 9th grade category.
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The other students who scored 3.5 and better were Tendaji Davis, (5.0) he attends the Montessori school. Eli Blondeau (5.0) he attends Antilles, Dillen Webbe (4.0) he attends Antilles, Ajay Mirpuri (4.0) he attends Antilles, Gerlanni Straun (3.5) he attends the Addelita Cancryn, Natik Jhanwar (3.5) he attends All Saints, and Jermaine Jones (3.5) he attends the Ivanna Eudora Kean High School. The performance and behavior of our other 5 students were admirable.
Note: The trophy rules for this tournament were changed. If our students had scored the same results under the 2019 or 2022 rules, seven of our 12 students would have received a trophy. The new rule has shifted from a 3.5 to a 5.5 score to receive a medal.
At the end of this chess event, our students, coaches, and parent chaperones, took an historic tour of Washington DC. We visited the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King Statue, Arlington Ceremony, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and saw the changing of the guards. They saw the White House, the Mint, the FBI building, and the Capitol.
A big thank you to all who assisted STYSCC students and made it possible for our students to participate in this K-12 national event. Your suggestions, words of encouragement, and financial support were greatly appreciated. We would especially like to thank the Rotary Club of St. Thomas 11 for supporting our Youth Scholastic Chess Club and providing some of the necessary funds that helped with the airfare for many of these students. This trip would not be possible without the continuous support of the Rotary Club of St. Thomas II.
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Seated from left to right:
Natik Jhanwar, Tendaji Davis, Ajay Mirpuri, Lynzo Abraham, Taragee Gumbs, Shorri Dominique—Standing from Left to right. Jermaine Jones, Dillen Webbe, Ger’lanni Straun, Jaynel Benjamin, Abram Williams, Marco Emile-student coach, and Eli Blondeau
VI students getting ready for one of the chess rounds

VI student wearing his bronze medal
VI student posing with a Grand Master
VI students in front of the Martin Luther King Monument
STT Scholastic Chess Tournament, March 4, 2023
The St. Thomas/St. John Youth Scholastic Chess Club conducted a scholastic chess tournament on Saturday, March 4th at the Addelita Cancryn Middle School. The winners of this event are:
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Categories:
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9 Years and Under
1st Place__ Roman Overmyer, Antilles School
2nd Place__ Lois Williams, Home Schooles
3rd Place__ Amarissa Etienne, Calvary Acaademy
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12 Years and Above
1st Place__ Tendaji Davis, Montessori
2nd Place__ Leah Williams, Home Schooled
3rd Place__ Amajah Etienne, Calvary Academy
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13 Years and Above
1st Place__ Abram Williams, Home Schooled
2nd Place__ Ger'Lanni Straum, Addelita Cancryn Middle School
3rd Placa__ Ajay Muripuri, Antilles School
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PICTURE
Front row from left to right__ Roman Overmyer, Lois Williams, and Amarissa Etienne
Middle row from left to right__ Tenjadi Davis, Leah Williams, and Amajah Etienne
Back row from left to right__ Abram Williams, Ger'Lanni Straum, and Ajay Muripuri

St. Croix Fun & Skill Building Tournament
January 21-22, 2023

12 participants (8 men, 4 women)

An especially intense and interesting game


Analyzing their games

Tournament Winners!
1st Place: Mayte Funtanilla (center)
2nd Place: John Dempsey (right)
3rd Place: Michael Bokeno (left)
Congratulations!

From left to right:
Lon Newman (amazing doner, assistant organizer, assistant tournament director), Gail Widmer (assistant organizer), Jeremy Thibodeaux (amazing tournament director & organizer)
2022
The Second Scholastic Chess Tournament for 2022 on December 17th in STT



The Second Open Chess Tournament for 2022

Our lovely venue at the RT Park


1st Place Winner: Mayte Funtanilla

14 Guests from STT
The First Open Chess Tournament for 2022
Over the St. Thomas Carnival weekend, the USVI Chess Association held the first Virgin Islands Open Chess Tournament at Lockhart Elementary School. There were 27 participants from both St. Croix and St. Thomas, ranging in age from very young to senior, and ranging in skill from beginner to FIDE Master (FM). The tournament director, Jon Haskel, broadcast many of the games online and on the USVI Chess Association website making it possible for the public to view and enjoy watching the games live as they were happening.
This is the first inter-island chess event of this magnitude in a very long time. This tournament was open to all Virgin Islanders as well as off-island guests and chess players everywhere.
Pictured below are the winners of the first USVI Chess Association Open Chess Tournament.
From left to right:
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FM Will Van Rensselaer (1st place, open)
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Darryl Allen (2nd place, open)
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Eli Blondeau (tied, 2nd place, under 1000)
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Stefan Todman (tied, 2nd place, under 1000)
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Abram Williams (tied, 2nd place, under 1000)
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Eve Williams (tied, 2nd place, under 1000)
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Rohan Nagi (3rd place, open)




The First Scholastic Chess Tournament for the 2022-23 School Year

When: October 1, 2022
Where: Lockhart Elementary School, St. Thomas
Chess Tournament Winners by Category:
9 Years and Under:
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Tucker Edwards (Homeschool)
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Roman Overmyer (Antilles School)
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Jamiel Canton (Yvonne Bowsky Elementary School)
13 Years and Above:
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Eli Blondeau (Antilles School)
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Jermaine Jones (IEKHS)
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Naitik Jhanwar (All Saints Cathedral School)



GM Nigel Short's Visit to the Caribbean
2021
Nigel David Short MBE is an English chess grandmaster, columnist, commentator and, since October 2018, Vice-President of FIDE. Short earned the Grandmaster title at the age of 19, and was ranked third in the world by FIDE from July 1988 to July 1989.


First stop St. Vincent and the Grenadines, then Dominica, then the British Virgin Islands, then St. Thomas on October 26, then finally St. Croix from October 26 through November 1, 2021

Playing Sir Richard Branson on Necker Island

On St. Thomas, October 26


Talking to students about the value of chess at Good Hope Country Day School on October 28




Playing Nico at the Domino Club on October 29
The simultaneous exhibition at Ziggy's on St. Croix, on Saturday, October 30, 2021