New Rankings For Saint Lucia At Chess Olympiad

Team Saint Lucia returned home recently from the International Chess Federation (FIDE) Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary. Whereas the team did not figure among the top competing countries, the trip was rewarding at the individual level, while there were also some bright spots for the group. A record-breaking 193 teams took part in the open (men’s) section and 181 squads in the women’s competition for the 45th edition of the Olympiad, which also marked 100 years since the global governing body, FIDE, was formed. After 11 rounds of play over nearly two weeks, Saint Lucia’s men placed 146th, while the women were 139th.  The men swept Sao Tome and Principe, defeated Palau, and drew 2-2 with  Liechtenstein, Isle of Man, Guernsey, and Senegal. They lost to the Faroe Islands, Netherlands Antilles, Nigeria, Uganda, and Suriname. The women swept the Democratic Republic of the Congo, overcame Mauritania and Liechtenstein, and held Palau and the Bahamas to draws, but were swept by Bangladesh and Barbados, also losing to Guam, Namibia, Haiti, and Lesotho. Three Saint Lucians earned new titles coming out of the competition. Kaieem Elizee is now a FIDE Master (FM) after securing a score of 6.5/11. Tris-Ann Richards became the...