After two days of competition, the Bregado Flax Educational Centre Secondary Division Senior Team and the St. George’s Secondary School Junior Team emerged as the winners of the Inter-Secondary School Chess Tournament last week in the Multi-purpose Sports Complex.
The event was a first, and it was sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports with the support of the BVI Chess Federation, according to acting Chief Education Officer Orlandette Crabbe.
In the Senior Secondary Division, the top three students were Alexis Ganigan from BFEC in first, followed by Zevieh Abraham from the Elmore Stoutt High School in second and Dominic Clarence from BFEC in third.
In the Junior Secondary Division, Rayjon George from St. George’s took first, followed by Isaiah George from BFEC in second and Dimitri Fungfook from ESHS in third.
Among the schools competing in the senior division, ESHS took second and St. George’s third. In the junior division, BFEC placed second and ESHS third.
The final game, which determined the winners, was played on Dec. 13, the tournament’s second day.
Chess Federation
Tournament Director Art Christopher said chess has been played in the VI for at least 50 years.
“Our Chess Federation is one of the oldest in the world,” he said. “Lately we have been trying to get more of our young players to revive chess here. I am overjoyed to see what we have seen here today.”
He added that the territory has a national team that competes internationally.
“We have been scoping players here for that national team, and I think we see a lot of good prospects,” he said.
Primary schoolers
Twenty-eight primary school students also competed in an open session, according to Education Officer Renee Weston, who coordinated the tournament.
“The winner from that segment was Isaiah Smith; Broden Baird placed second and Zivon Abraham placed third,” she said.
The seven competing schools also included Claudia Creque Educational Centre on Anegada; the Ciboney Centre for Excellence on Virgin Gorda; and Cedar International School and the Virgin Islands School of Technical Studies on Tortola, Ms. Weston said.
To view the final games and award ceremony, go to the government’s Facebook page.