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Chess, the intellectual game that unites millions of people around the world, is entering a new era of development in Dominica. Although precise information about when chess first appeared on the island is unavailable, its influence has been felt for many decades. The tradition of chess began in institutions such as St. Mary’s Academy, where priests and brothers, who had knowledge of chess, passed it on to the younger generations. However, for a long time, chess remained in the background, an interest of a small group of enthusiasts.
Everything changed in October 2021 with the visit of Grandmaster Nigel Short. His arrival marked a significant milestone in the island’s chess scene. Inspired by his support, a group of local players decided to form a chess federation and integrate Dominica into the global chess community.
Photo of GM Nigel Short during his visit to Dominica in October 2021. Standing (left to right): Morris Burton, Larry Thomas, Carlton Morvan, Mitchel Davis, Nigel Francis, GM Nigel Short, Lyndon Auguiste, Robert Bridet, Tris-Ann Richards (President of the St. Lucia Chess Federation), Shawnalee Gordon. Kneeling (left to right): Ross Boyd, Daniel Scotland, Edgar Berridge. This photo was captured during a simultaneous exhibition with GM Nigel Short.
In December 2021, the Dominica Chess Federation (DCF) was officially founded as a non-profit organisation with the goal of promoting chess on the island and fostering the intellectual development of the youth.
That same year, the federation became a member of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), officially integrating Dominica into the global chess community and giving the country the opportunity to participate in international chess tournaments. From that moment, efforts to popularise the game and involve new participants began in earnest.
In June 2023, the federation also became a member of the Dominica Olympic Committee, unlocking access to additional resources and partnerships that would aid in the development of chess as a competitive sport.
In just three years of active work, interest in chess on Dominica has grown significantly. The island now boasts around 20 chess players who are preparing for international competitions, 100 active players, and approximately 1,500 people who are somehow familiar with the game. This progress has been made possible thanks to the support of FIDE, the Dominica Olympic Committee, and generous sponsorship from local companies such as Tropical Shipping, H.H.V Whitchurch & Co Ltd, Big Edge Financial Express, Dominica State College, and the University of the West Indies.
Since its inception, the Dominica Chess Federation (DCF) has organised and participated in numerous official tournaments, covering both national and international levels. These events have included both open and women’s competitions, held in both offline and online formats, for players of various ages. These tournaments have provided local chess players with the opportunity to earn official FIDE ratings, improve their skills, and build confidence in their abilities – all of which are crucial steps towards achieving significant sporting success.
Since 2022, Dominica has held an annual tournament to crown its national chess champion. The competition consists of two stages: a qualifying round and a final. Around 20–30 players participate in the qualifying matches, and the top 10 advance to the final. The first national chess champion in Dominica’s history was Nigel Francis, who successfully defended his title in 2023. In 2024, the national championship title was claimed by Robert Bridet.
Participants of the Dominica National Chess Championship 2022 gathered together, showcasing determination and focus as they compete for the prestigious national title.
The winners of the 2023 National Chess Championship, celebrating their achievements in this highly regarded tournament.
2024 National Chess Championship Winners.
Winners of all the championships received awards and cash prizes. The top five finishers in 2024 formed the men’s team that represented Dominica in the Open category at the 2024 Chess Olympiad held in Hungary.
Dominica’s chess players at the First Open Chess Tournament in November 2022
From November 11 to 13, 2022, the Dominica Chess Federation hosted its first-ever open chess tournament. The competition consisted of 9 rounds, with 15 players participating. The tournament was fiercely contested: after the second day, three players — Nigel, Robert, and Lyndon — were leading the race for first place. Another three participants — Larry, Carlton, and Brandon — were very close behind in the standings. However, by the end of the third day, Robert Bridet emerged victorious, securing 7.5 points out of 9 possible.
Final Results:
Players finishing 6th and 7th were also awarded:
To break ties among players with equal scores, tiebreakers such as the Buchholz coefficient, its modifications, the number of wins, and victories with black pieces were used. All prize winners received awards and cash prizes. This tournament marked a significant event for the chess community of Dominica and served as an important step in the continued development of the game on the island.
On April 11, 2023, the Dominica team participated in the International Rating Tournament (IRT) Hybrid Caribbean Easter Classic. The tournament was held using the Swiss system in seven rounds, with classical time control (60 minutes + 30 seconds per move). A total of 88 players from eight countries competed: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Panama, and Saint Lucia.
The Dominica players showed great determination and achieved the following results:
On September 24, 2023, Dominica participated in the international tournament XIII IRT Híbrido del Sur Sub-2100 2023. This tournament also followed the Swiss system, with six rounds and the same classical time control (60+30). 99 players from six countries participated: Barbados, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Ecuador, Saint Lucia, Venezuela, and England.
The Dominica team showed strong results:
Dominica’s participation in international online FIDE tournaments via the Tornello.com platform marked an important milestone for chess development on the island. The team confidently showcased their skills and gained valuable experience in classical chess, which further strengthened Dominica’s position on the international stage.
The Dominica team (left to right): Lyndon Auguiste, Robert Bridet, Carlton Morvan, Larry Thomas, and Nigel Francis.
Five members of the Dominica Chess Federation were part of the 130-person national team that travelled to Venezuela to compete in the ALBA Games, held from 21 to 27 April 2023. This marked a historic moment as it was the first time Dominica participated in the ALBA Games. The event featured 11 countries competing in 35 sports, with Dominica represented in 11 of them.
The Dominica Chess Federation played a key role in securing the country’s participation in the chess competition. The team was made up of Nigel Francis, Lyndon Auguiste, Carlton Morvan, Robert Bridet and Larry Thomas, who served as the coach and captain of the team.
A historic achievement for Dominica came when the National Chess Champion, Nigel Francis, made history as the first Dominican to defeat a FIDE Master. His remarkable victory over the FIDE Master from Nicaragua highlighted Nigel’s exceptional skill and became a source of pride for the entire country.
Results: The team showed resilience and played admirably throughout the nine rounds of the competition:
This debut at the ALBA Games was a significant achievement for both the Dominica Chess Federation and national sports overall. The team showcased the growing potential of Dominica on the international chess stage, laying a solid foundation for future success in global competitions.
Participants of the Dominica Open Tournament in November 2023, competing for top honors in this exciting chess event.
On 10 and 11 November 2023, the Dominica Chess Federation (DCF) hosted the DCF Open Tournament, which consisted of 9 rounds with a time control of 15+10. Both men and women participated in the event. The prize winners were:
The top players were awarded prizes, and the two strongest male participants secured qualification for the CARICOM Chess Competition 2024.
Participants of the 2023 Women’s Queen’s Gala in Dominica, showcasing their talent and passion for chess in this special event.
On 18 November 2023, the 2023 Women’s Queen’s Gala chess tournament took place at the UWI Open Campus, organised by the Dominica Chess Federation. The tournament featured 10 female players, who competed in 6 rounds of rapid chess. Three players won 5 out of 6 possible games, and tiebreak matches were held to determine the winners. The results of the tournament were as follows:
The winners received prizes, and the top two players earned qualification for the CARICOM Chess Competition 2024.
Chess players from the Dominica Chess Federation participated in the 2024 CARICOM International Chess Tournament, which took place in Guyana from 4 to 9 March 2024, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). This prestigious event brought together chess players from all CARICOM member states and associated countries, promoting cultural exchange, sportsmanship, and intellectual excellence. The tournament was conducted in a Swiss system, featuring 9 rounds with a time control of 90 minutes + 30 seconds per move.
The Dominica chess team comprised two men and two women: Nicholas Goldberg, Nigel Francis, Zahidu Henry, and Ayani Casimir, along with team coach Larry Thomas. The team members were selected based on their top performances in the 2023 DCF Open Tournament and 2023 Women’s Queen’s Gala, where they secured the best positions among the participants.
Participating in this tournament marked a significant milestone for Dominica, strengthening the country’s position on the international chess stage and providing invaluable experience for future success in global competitions.
The Chess Olympiad is one of the most prestigious and expansive events in the world of chess, gathering the best players from across the globe to compete in team tournaments. Dominica participated in two Chess Olympiads, held in 2022 and 2024, showcasing significant growth and ambitious intentions on the international stage.
Dominica Team at the 44th Chess Olympiad in India, proudly representing their nation in this prestigious global chess competition.
The 2022 Chess Olympiad in Chennai marked a historic moment for Dominica, as the country debuted in the Open category. The event brought together 188 teams in the Open category and 162 in the Women’s category. Dominica’s team, consisting of 5 players, was formed based on the performance and chess strength of its members. The team included Nigel Francis, Robert Bridet, Lyndon Auguiste, Larry Thomas, and Brandon Henry.
The team was accompanied by the General Secretary of the Dominica Chess Federation, Daniel Scotland, and coach Sohan Phadke. Daniel Scotland not only performed administrative duties but also represented Dominica at the FIDE Chess Congress, strengthening the federation’s international ties.
Coach Sohan Phadke — an experienced chess master with over 20 years of practice and more than 6 years of high-level coaching — played a pivotal role in the team’s success. His deep understanding of chess strategies, ability to tailor training to individual players, and effective support during the tournament helped the team remain confident and handle pressure, significantly boosting their team spirit.
Dominica started the competition in 180th place out of 188 teams but successfully climbed 10 places in the final standings. Over 11 rounds, the team achieved 2 wins, 3 draws, and 6 losses. In matches against countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, San Marino, Palau, Jordan, Togo, Liechtenstein, Kuwait, Bermuda, Maldives and Guernsey, the team earned 14 points out of 44 possible (31.81%) on the boards and 7 points out of 22 in the team rankings. Participation in the 2022 Chess Olympiad marked an important step in the development of chess in Dominica, demonstrating the progress of the team and its potential on the international chess stage.
Dominica team at the 45th Chess Olympiad, representing their country with pride and skill on the global chess stage.
Two years later, in 2024, Dominica again participated in the Chess Olympiad, held in Budapest, Hungary. The tournament set a record for the number of participants, with 193 teams in the Open category and 181 teams in the Women’s category. The team was led by International Master Tibor Károlyi, who served as the team captain and became a valuable mentor for the players. Dominica entered the competition ranked 174th in the starting list based on the team’s Elo rating, reflecting a significant improvement in the island’s level of play over the two years since its debut at the previous Olympiad.
At the end of the tournament, Dominica’s team scored 6 points (2 wins and 2 draws), finishing in 179th place. The individual results were as follows:
The greatest success was achieved by Nigel Francis, who scored 6 points out of a possible 10 (5 wins, 2 draws, 3 losses). His outstanding performance allowed him to meet the requirements for the Candidate Master (CM) title — the first official chess title in Dominica’s history. This accomplishment marked a significant milestone for the Dominica Chess Federation and the country as a whole, highlighting the island’s potential and ambitions on the international chess stage.
Participation in these two Chess Olympiads has been an important phase in strengthening Dominica’s position in the world of chess. The team has shown considerable progress, and their achievements, including the island’s first official chess title, stand as a clear testament to their determination and drive for growth. These accomplishments lay a solid foundation for the further development of chess in the country and inspire players to reach new heights.
The Dominica Chess Federation, in collaboration with FIDE, has been actively working to encourage women’s participation in chess, a sport traditionally regarded as male-dominated. Over the past few years, numerous initiatives have been undertaken to support and develop women’s chess on the island.
In 2023, 40 women from Dominica participated in the Queen’s Gambit Challenge — a free beginner’s course organised by FIDE. This initiative included 370 women aged 7 to 79 from English-speaking Caribbean islands, such as Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, the British Virgin Islands, Guyana, Grenada, Dominica, the Cayman Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, and Jamaica. The programme featured one-hour lessons held weekly over ten weeks, culminating in an online tournament with prizes for the top three finishers in two age categories: under 14 and over 14.
In the second half of 2023 and early 2024, women in Dominica had more opportunities to compete in tournaments than men, as they could participate in both open tournaments with stronger competition and women-only events, where all players were at a similar skill level. This dual participation allowed women to rapidly improve their chess skills in a short period, significantly narrowing the gap between their level and that of the more experienced players who have been active on the island for decades.
Winners of the Women’s National Chess Championship in June 2024.
In June 2024, Dominica hosted its first-ever Women’s National Chess Championship, marking a historic milestone. The tournament was played in a 7-round Swiss format with nine participants. Among the nine participants, the podium places were distributed as follows:
The top five players formed a strong women’s team that, for the first time, represented Dominica in the women’s category at the 2024 Chess Olympiad in Hungary.
In July and August 2024, with support from FIDE under its Chess Federation Development Programme, the Dominica women’s team received assistance from Grandmaster Alejandro Hoffman, who served as the team captain. Under his guidance, weekly two-hour online training sessions were conducted, complemented by homework assignments, ensuring systematic preparation for the players.
During the Olympiad, the Grandmaster actively reviewed the players’ completed games, helping to identify their strengths and weaknesses. He also worked on developing opening repertoires tailored to each upcoming match. This approach not only provided the participants with valuable knowledge and practical experience but also helped pinpoint key areas for future growth, laying a solid foundation for continued success.
Women’s Dominica Team during a training session with Grandmaster Alejandro Hoffman at the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest, honing their skills for the prestigious event.
The 45th Chess Olympiad, held in Budapest, Hungary, was a historic event for Dominica as the country participated for the first time in the women’s category of this prestigious tournament. Dominica began the competition ranked 166th out of 181 teams and finished in 155th position, improving its standing by 11 places. The team played 11 rounds, scoring 7 points overall (3 wins and 1 draw). The individual results of the team members were as follows:
Dominica team at the 45th Chess Olympiad
At the time of the Olympiad, only one player from Dominica’s women’s team, Zahidu Henry, had a FIDE rating (1405). However, after the November 2024 FIDE rating update, four players are now on the list:
Participating in such a large-scale and prestigious competition was not only a significant challenge for the emerging players but also an invaluable experience. The tournament allowed the athletes to better understand the path to achieving a chess player’s ultimate goals, focus on their objectives, and identify areas for further development. Moreover, their involvement in the Olympiad boosted their self-confidence, strengthened their mental resilience, and taught them to manage nerves more effectively—an essential component of successful play.
The Dominica Chess Federation visited the Achievers Believers Pre-School in November 2024.
Developing chess among children and young people is one of the main priorities of the Dominica Chess Federation. Through the Chess in Schools Programme, the federation actively supports the creation and maintenance of chess clubs in schools across the island.
In October 2022, the Dominica Chess Federation, in collaboration with the St. Mary’s Academy Chess Club, hosted an exciting simultaneous chess exhibition on the SMA grounds.
As of today, the federation collaborates with eight schools where chess clubs are already operational. As part of this partnership, comprehensive support is provided: training sessions with Dominica’s top chess players are organised, school and youth tournaments are held, and chess sets are distributed for learning and practice.
Carlton Morvan, Larry Thomas, Brandon Henry, Zahidu Henry, and Nicholas Goldberg are among the most dedicated school instructors, who, in December 2023, were recognised for their hard work and commitment to promoting chess in Dominica’s schools.
Dominica Chess Federation at the handing over of chess sets, supporting the growth of chess in the community and providing resources for future players.
In 2023, new chess sets were delivered to the following schools: Convent High School, St. Mary’s Academy, Pierre Charles Secondary School, Community High School, Orion Academy, and Portsmouth Secondary School.
The federation will soon receive 450 new chess sets and plans to expand its programme, reaching even more schools. With an increase in participants, it is expected that more students will actively engage in chess, enabling inter-school tournaments to be held more regularly. Schools interested in receiving support and developing their chess programmes are encouraged to contact the Dominica Chess Federation at 285-4500 or via email at dominicachessfederation@gmail.com
The Chess Federation receives significant sponsorship support from commercial companies, which play a key role in promoting chess among children by helping organise events and programmes aimed at popularising the game among young people.
The HHV Whitchurch Creamery Ice-Cream Inter-Schools Chess Tournament held on February 22, 2024, bringing together young chess players from various schools for an exciting competition.
Thanks to the sponsorship of HHV Whitchurch, the first team-based inter-school tournament, the HHV Whitchurch Creamery Ice-cream Inter-Schools Chess Tournament, was held on 22 February 2024. Seven schools participated in the event, which featured teams randomly divided into two groups — A and B. The tournament format ensured that each team (comprising four players) played one match against every other team in their group, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals.
Top players who achieved a success rate of at least 66% in their matches:
Winners of the final of the HHV Whitchurch Creamery Ice-Cream Inter-Schools Chess Tournament: The St Mary’s Academy, The Isaiah Thomas Secondary and The Orion Academy
On 21 March 2024, the semi-finals, third-place match, and final of the HHV Whitchurch Creamery Ice-Cream Inter-Schools Chess Tournament took place. Four schools participated in the final matches. The final standings were as follows:
The Dominica Chess Federation was pleased to present cash prizes and trophies to the winners and finalists, as well as chess sets to all the semi-finalists.
Young chess players from Dominica
On 3 June 2024, Tropical Shipping company provided a cheque for 6792.25 XCD as sponsorship for the next inter-school chess tournament, scheduled for early 2025.
From 17 to 19 December 2024, the first individual chess tournament for children under 18 took place. This historic competition featured 25 young chess players competing in two categories: girls and the open section. The tournament consisted of 9 intense rounds, identifying the strongest players.
Results in the open category:
Top players in the girls’ category:
The tournament and prizes for the winners were made possible thanks to the support of sponsors, including Springfield Trading Ltd and Tropical Shipping.
The development of chess among children and young people in Dominica continues to be a priority goal for the Chess Federation. All efforts are focused on building a solid foundation for future achievements and success. The more young players are involved in this intellectual sport, the greater the opportunities to identify talents and achieve high results on the international stage. The Federation aims to expand its programmes and initiatives, creating opportunities for learning, development, and competition, in order to give every child the chance to showcase their skills and contribute to the thriving chess culture on the island.
Dominica chess players at the UWI Open Campus
The Dominica Chess Federation invites all chess enthusiasts to join regular events:
Stay updated with news, events, and announcements on the Federation’s official Facebook page: facebook.com/chess767.
For more information on all initiatives of the Dominica Chess Federation and inquiries about collaboration:
Chess in Dominica is experiencing a rise. Thanks to the efforts of the Federation, support from international organisations, and the enthusiasm of local players, chess is becoming an increasingly popular and significant sport in the life of the island.
Dominica takes pride in its achievements and moves forward with confidence. Today, chess is not just a game, but a powerful tool for intellectual development, bringing the island’s residents together and opening up new opportunities for them on the global chess stage.
