History
In the 1960's, a few men with an interest in chess founded the Bahamas Chess Association as a vehicle to promote the game in The Bahamas. These Pioneers were the late Dr. Oswald Symonette, Kenneth Adderley, Chris Burrows and Lincoln Davis. Meetings, I am told, were sometimes held in member's houses when public buildings like schools were not available to players.
Following the Fischer-Spassky match in Iceland in 1972, Grandmaster Luthar Schmid, the arbiter in that match, visited the Bahamas. He played a simultaneous exhibition at one of the Cable Beach Hotels. He must have been impressed with our play because he supported the Bahamas application for membership to the world chess body Federation Internationale des Echecs (FIDE), and the Bahamas become a member in 1974. We have remained a member ever since, except for a period in the 1980's when we were suspended until our arrears in membership dues was paid off. The Bahamas has sent teams to the Olympiad on four occasions (1974 in Nice France; 1986 in Dubai, UAE; 1988 in Thessaloniki, Greece; and 1990 in Novi Sad, Yugoslavia).
The Federation has always sought to promote the development of its youth. The junior programme got off to a good start in 1974 with the first Bahamas Junior Chess Championship. The High School Team Championship followed a year later and has continued for the next 25 years and remains one of the most prestigious events on the junior calendar.
It comes then as little surprise that the youth representation of the country in regional and international events was of a high standard. In 1983, Antoinette Seymour won the championship for women in the English-speaking Caribbean. Juliet Storr won the same title two years later, and a team of four players -- Antoinette Seymour, Juliet Storr, Percy Rolle and Andrew Moss -- did the Bahamas proud in the 4th World Youth U26 Team Chess Championship in Chicago, 1983.
The Scholastic Championship is the Federation's latest effort at promoting to the youth in the school system from primary to tertiary level.
At present, there are hundreds of players in the country -- players who have come out of the school system but who have become inactive once high school was over. At present, active membership is less than fifty, but the prospects for our future remain high, if the pupils who are now starting at younger ages continue to develop. A suitable home base would be a definite plus for our image.
Warren H. Seymour - 2004
(edited by Andre White)
Following the Fischer-Spassky match in Iceland in 1972, Grandmaster Luthar Schmid, the arbiter in that match, visited the Bahamas. He played a simultaneous exhibition at one of the Cable Beach Hotels. He must have been impressed with our play because he supported the Bahamas application for membership to the world chess body Federation Internationale des Echecs (FIDE), and the Bahamas become a member in 1974. We have remained a member ever since, except for a period in the 1980's when we were suspended until our arrears in membership dues was paid off. The Bahamas has sent teams to the Olympiad on four occasions (1974 in Nice France; 1986 in Dubai, UAE; 1988 in Thessaloniki, Greece; and 1990 in Novi Sad, Yugoslavia).
The Federation has always sought to promote the development of its youth. The junior programme got off to a good start in 1974 with the first Bahamas Junior Chess Championship. The High School Team Championship followed a year later and has continued for the next 25 years and remains one of the most prestigious events on the junior calendar.
It comes then as little surprise that the youth representation of the country in regional and international events was of a high standard. In 1983, Antoinette Seymour won the championship for women in the English-speaking Caribbean. Juliet Storr won the same title two years later, and a team of four players -- Antoinette Seymour, Juliet Storr, Percy Rolle and Andrew Moss -- did the Bahamas proud in the 4th World Youth U26 Team Chess Championship in Chicago, 1983.
The Scholastic Championship is the Federation's latest effort at promoting to the youth in the school system from primary to tertiary level.
At present, there are hundreds of players in the country -- players who have come out of the school system but who have become inactive once high school was over. At present, active membership is less than fifty, but the prospects for our future remain high, if the pupils who are now starting at younger ages continue to develop. A suitable home base would be a definite plus for our image.
Warren H. Seymour - 2004
(edited by Andre White)
BAHAMAS CHESS OLYMPIAD HISTORY
Elías Antonas (National Champion 1969, 1970, 1971), Caswell Thompson (National Champion 1972, 1973, 1978), Anthony Rolle (National Champion 1974, 1977), Kenneth Adderley, Selvyn Ramcharran, Kirk Ingraham represented Bahamas in Chess Olympiad 1974 in Nice, France.
Valentine Cox (National Champion 1975, 2002, 2015), Percy Rolle (National Champion 1981, 1982, 1983), D. Moss, Frank Gibson (National Champion 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2003, 2004, 2005), L. Coleby represented Bahamas in Chess Olympiad 1986 in Dubai, UAE.
Valentine Cox (National Champion 1975, 2002, 2015), Frank Gibson (National Champion 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2003, 2004, 2005), Percy Rolle (National Champion 1981, 1982, 1983), Paul Beneby represented Bahamas in Chess Olympiad 1988 in Thessaloniki, Greece.
Byron Small (National Champion 1992, 1997), Keith Watson (National Champion 1989), Frank Gibson (National Champion 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2003, 2004, 2005), Trevor Smith, Charlton Clint represented Bahamas in Chess Olympiad 1990 in Novi Sad, Yugoslavia.
Valentine Cox (National Champion 1975, 2002, 2015), Elton Joseph, Kendrick Knowles (National Champion 2013, 2014, 2016), Cecil Moncur, and Chappell Whyms represented Bahamas in Chess Olympiad 2014 in Tromso, Norway.
CM Elton Joseph, CM Kendrick Knowles, NM Valentine Cox, NM Frank Gibson, FM Cecil Moncur represented Bahamas in Chess Olympiad 2016 in Baku, Azerbaijan
World Chess Olympiad 2018
Head of BCF delegation: BCF President CM FA Elton Joseph
Open Team: WCM Polina Karelina, FM Cecil Moncur, NM Byron Small, Chappell Whyms, Francis Skinner
Captain/coach of the Open team: GM Predrag Trajkovic
Women Team: WCM Daijah Johnson, NM Antoinette Seymour, Juliette Storr, Trinity Pinder, Erica Seymour
Captain/coach of the Women's team: GM Renier Gonzalez
Official sponsors of the 43rd World Chess Olympiad Teams:
• Lindroth Development Company • New Providence Development Company
• The Mednet Group of Companies
• Mr. James Lyle • Mr. William Hunter • Mr. Michael Phillips
PLAYERS WHO REPRESENTED BAHAMAS IN INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENTS
Elías Antonas represented the Bahamas in 1975 at Central American & the Caribbean FIDE Zonal Tournament (Santo Domingo).
Elías Antonas won Alabama Chess Championship in 1975.
Antoinette Seymour won the championship for women in the English-speaking Caribbean in 1983.
Juliet Storr won the championship for women in the English-speaking Caribbean in 1985.
Antoinette Seymour, Juliet Storr, Percy Rolle and Andrew Moss represented the Bahamas in 1983, in Chicago, at 4th World Youth U26 Team Chess Championship.
Kean Smith was BCF President during 2006-2011.
Polina Karelina and Sophia Millar represented the Bahamas at World youth U8 girls chess championship 2009 in Turkey
Ken Gibson, Elton Joseph, Yan Lyanski, Byron Small, Joseph Ferguson, Chappel Whyms, Milton Evans, and Tamiko McDonald represented the Bahamas at the 2.3.5 Sub-zonal in 2010 (Nassau, Bahamas).
Travis Miller, Nelissa Thomas, Sandeep Gali, Aaron Rollins represented the Bahamas at North American Youth 2011.
Polina Karelina and Sophia Millar represented the Bahamas at World youth U10 girls and U8 girls chess championship 2011 in Brazil.
Andre White was BCF President during 2012-2016.
Polina Karelina won the U12 girls Kyiv chess championship in 2012 in Kyiv, Ukraine.
Philip Hanna Jr. , Sandeep Gali and Chaz Garraway represented the Bahamas at CARIFTA Junior Chess 2013.
Nathan Smith and Daijah Johnson represented the Bahamas at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Youth Festival in 2013.
Nathan Smith, Philip Hanna Jr., and Chaz Garraway represented the Bahamas at CARIFTA Junior Chess 2014.
Kendrick Knowles represented the Bahamas at 2.3.5 Sub-zonal in 2014 in Trinidad and Tobago.
Daijah Johnson, Philip Hanna Jr., and Malik Sands represented the Bahamas at CARIFTA Junior Chess 2015.
Daijah Johnson, Nathan Smith, and Luke Stuart represented the Bahamas at Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Youth Festival in 2015.
Nathan Smith won the Under 12 section of CARIFTA in 2016.
Polina Karelina represented the Bahamas at the 2.3.5 Female Sub-Zonal in 2016 in Barbados.
Valentine Cox represented the Bahamas at the 2.3.5 Absolute Sub-Zonal in 2016 in Barbados.
Polina Karelina represented the Bahamas at SPFGI 2016 in St. Louis, Misssouri.
Trinity Pinder, Adam Clarke, Davonye Edmond, Ivoine Strachan and Suraj Nair represented the Bahamas at
CARIFTA Chess Championship 2017 in Kingston, Jamaica. Coach Elton Joseph.
Elías Antonas represented the Bahamas in 1975 at Central American & the Caribbean FIDE Zonal Tournament (Santo Domingo).
Elías Antonas won Alabama Chess Championship in 1975.
Antoinette Seymour won the championship for women in the English-speaking Caribbean in 1983.
Juliet Storr won the championship for women in the English-speaking Caribbean in 1985.
Antoinette Seymour, Juliet Storr, Percy Rolle and Andrew Moss represented the Bahamas in 1983, in Chicago, at 4th World Youth U26 Team Chess Championship.
Kean Smith was BCF President during 2006-2011.
Polina Karelina and Sophia Millar represented the Bahamas at World youth U8 girls chess championship 2009 in Turkey
Ken Gibson, Elton Joseph, Yan Lyanski, Byron Small, Joseph Ferguson, Chappel Whyms, Milton Evans, and Tamiko McDonald represented the Bahamas at the 2.3.5 Sub-zonal in 2010 (Nassau, Bahamas).
Travis Miller, Nelissa Thomas, Sandeep Gali, Aaron Rollins represented the Bahamas at North American Youth 2011.
Polina Karelina and Sophia Millar represented the Bahamas at World youth U10 girls and U8 girls chess championship 2011 in Brazil.
Andre White was BCF President during 2012-2016.
Polina Karelina won the U12 girls Kyiv chess championship in 2012 in Kyiv, Ukraine.
Philip Hanna Jr. , Sandeep Gali and Chaz Garraway represented the Bahamas at CARIFTA Junior Chess 2013.
Nathan Smith and Daijah Johnson represented the Bahamas at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Youth Festival in 2013.
Nathan Smith, Philip Hanna Jr., and Chaz Garraway represented the Bahamas at CARIFTA Junior Chess 2014.
Kendrick Knowles represented the Bahamas at 2.3.5 Sub-zonal in 2014 in Trinidad and Tobago.
Daijah Johnson, Philip Hanna Jr., and Malik Sands represented the Bahamas at CARIFTA Junior Chess 2015.
Daijah Johnson, Nathan Smith, and Luke Stuart represented the Bahamas at Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Youth Festival in 2015.
Nathan Smith won the Under 12 section of CARIFTA in 2016.
Polina Karelina represented the Bahamas at the 2.3.5 Female Sub-Zonal in 2016 in Barbados.
Valentine Cox represented the Bahamas at the 2.3.5 Absolute Sub-Zonal in 2016 in Barbados.
Polina Karelina represented the Bahamas at SPFGI 2016 in St. Louis, Misssouri.
Trinity Pinder, Adam Clarke, Davonye Edmond, Ivoine Strachan and Suraj Nair represented the Bahamas at
CARIFTA Chess Championship 2017 in Kingston, Jamaica. Coach Elton Joseph.
