Saint Lucia Chess Federation Celebrates Triumph of U16 Olympiad Team

Team Saint Lucia proudly made their return this week from the FIDE World Youth Under-16 Chess Olympiad held in Barranquilla, Colombia. Ranked 70th, Saint Lucia ultimately secured the 78th position among 85 competing teams. D’yorni Cilpa emerged as the team's standout player, amassing six points, followed by Jamari Joseph with 2.5 points, Ariel De Leon with two points, and Shekinah Leonce with 1.5 points. In the opening match, Saint Lucia faced Chile, suffering a 3-1 defeat, though 16-year-old Cilpa achieved his inaugural victory against Benjamin Castillo. The following round saw the team overwhelmed by Colombia. A resurgence occurred in matches against El Salvador’s B team, where Cilpa and Joseph triumphed, resulting in a 2-2 draw. Saint Lucia's finest performance arrived in the fourth round against The Bahamas, winning 3-1. Despite subsequent losses, including a final round setback against another Colombian team, the Saint Lucia Chess Federation praised its young talents for their international experience, resilience, and camaraderie.