Team Bahamas Records Outstanding Performances at 2026 CARIFTA Hybrid Chess Championships

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – July 15, 2026 – The Bahamas Chess Federation proudly congratulates Team Bahamas on an inspiring performance at the 2026 CARIFTA Hybrid Chess Championships, where the nation’s young chess ambassadors competed against many of the Caribbean’s strongest junior players. The championship attracted competitors from 16 Caribbean federations, providing Bahamian players with an exceptional opportunity to test their skills at the regional level while competing for valuable FIDE rating gains.

Leading Team Bahamas was WCM Chika Pride, who captured the silver medal with an outstanding 2nd-place finish in the Under-16 Girls division. Chika demonstrated consistency and determination throughout the tournament, earning one of The Bahamas’ best-ever finishes at the CARIFTA Chess Championships. Also producing an excellent result was Sohan Umesh, who finished 4th in the Under-16 Open division after a strong performance against a highly competitive field. His result further demonstrated the growing strength of junior chess in The Bahamas.

One of the greatest benefits of the CARIFTA Chess Championships is its age-category format. Unlike many local chess tournaments in The Bahamas, where competitors of all ages often compete together in a single open section, CARIFTA ensures that players compete exclusively against others within their own age group. This creates a more balanced competitive environment, allowing juniors to measure their progress against regional peers at similar stages of development. In many Bahamian tournaments outside of the national scholastic leagues, it is not uncommon for a seven-year-old to be paired against an experienced adult, even someone in their seventies. CARIFTA therefore provides an invaluable opportunity for young players to benchmark their abilities against the Caribbean’s best players of the same age.

The tournament also represented an important milestone for many members of Team Bahamas, several of whom were making their regional debut. Beyond the excitement of representing their country, these players gained invaluable international experience, developed greater confidence under tournament conditions, and had the opportunity to earn or improve their official FIDE ratings—an important step in their long-term chess development.

The Team Bahamas playing hall was proudly hosted by Boost Academy, whose facilities provided an excellent venue for the hybrid competition. The tournament was conducted in full compliance with FIDE Fair Play Standards, with IA Andre White and FA Elton Joseph serving as local arbiters, ensuring that every game met international standards for fair play, supervision, and sportsmanship.

The Bahamas Chess Federation extends sincere appreciation to Boost Academy, the players, parents, coaches, volunteers, and supporters whose dedication made Team Bahamas’ participation possible. The Federation also thanks the Caribbean Chess Confederation and tournament organizers for providing another professionally organized regional championship that continues to strengthen chess throughout the Caribbean.

Team Bahamas – 2026 CARIFTA Hybrid Chess Championships

WCM Nelissa Thomas

WCM Chika Pride

Bradley Carroll

Eeva Hudson

Isaiah Richardson

Emani Johnson

Canaan Johnson

Caerwyn Turnquest

Danica Rolle

Telela Minnis

Bharath Nair

Henri Todd

Sohan Umesh

Abijith Nair

Valintino Charlton

A’maris McGregor

Stephen Burrows

Diana Williams

Reflecting on the championship, the Bahamas Chess Federation noted that the team’s performances are evidence of the continued growth of youth chess across the country. Established players continued to excel, while newcomers gained invaluable international exposure that will strengthen future national teams. With medal-winning performances, strong top-four finishes, and numerous players gaining their first regional experience, Team Bahamas has laid a strong foundation for continued success on the Caribbean chess stage.