Fiji Chess Federation

2 months ago

TEAM FIJI WINS 3 MORE, SECURES INTERNATIONAL CHESS TITLE

Team Fiji won against Mauritius, Antigua and Barbuda, and Bahrain in a collective effort that also secured a Women's Candidate Master (WCM) title for the nation at the 45th World Chess Olympiad at Budapest, Hungary under the guidance of the Head of Delegation Candidate Master (CM) Taione Sikivou, Open Captain CM Goru Arvind, and Women's Captain William Robert Raymond Bennion.

Both captains passed an online course hosted by the FIDE - International Chess Federation to earn their respective titles for National Instructor (NI, Open) and Development Instructor (DI, Women), while the Head of Delegation took home a FIDE Instructor (FI) title.

The Women's Team faced Mauritius where Board 1 WCM Gloria Sukhu drew with WCM Chetanah Andhin, Board 2 WCM Cydel Terubea drew with WCM Meritza Acham, Board 3 Tanvi Prasad of Jai Narayan College beat Preetisha Devi Gundadoo, and 17-year-old Makayla Sukhu of Suva Grammar School defeated WCM Aamirah Beekhy.

Fiji Women beat Mauritius 3-1.

Team Fiji was sponsored by FIDE - International Chess Federation, Fiji National Sports Commission, and Vodafone Fiji for their professional attire in the championship that featured the world's greatest chess players from more than 190 countries.

"It was a very challenging Olympiad for all our players," states CM Goru Arvind. "Like all sports at international level, we had tough days and winning days but in the end, our teamwork managed to bring home some respectful results and a WCM title. The biggest thing we learn from sports is to always remain patient, and never give up."

The Fiji Open Team recorded a victory with Board 1 CM Manoj Kumar forcing a resignation from Joshua Solomon, Board 2 CM Rudr Prasad of The University of the South Pacific winning against Bailey Matthew, Board 3 Yash Krishen Maharaj of The University of the South Pacific defeating Abner Farquar, and Board 4 Prashil Prakash scoring against Jonathan Solomon.

Fiji Open whitewashed Antigua and Barbuda 4-0.

The Fiji Women's Team reigned supreme with Board 1 Women's FIDE Master (WFM) Kieran Lyons beating Najla Ahmed, Board 2 WCM Cydel Terubea outplaying Maram Almusawi, and Board 3 Tanvi Prasad holding off Hawra Sharaf to a draw.

Fiji Women beat Bahrain 2.5-1.5.

"We are glad to report that Makayla Sukhu managed to achieve 3.5/7 for her WCM title despite being the youngest member of the squad in her Olympiad debut," adds Goru Arvind. "I would like to credit the efforts of their captain, William Bennion for keeping the girls in winning form across the tournament. Other than that, we also had CM Rudr Prasad recording Fiji's second Olympiad draw against a Grandmaster (GM) from Ireland in Round 1."

In other results for the Fiji Women's Team, WCM Tanvi Prasad drew with Gabriella S. Vera Perez of Puerto Rico, WCM Cydel Terubea beat Maissiri Carole Danwe of Cameroon, and Makayla Sukhu drew with Lucrece Wefang of Cameroon to secure her WCM title.

For the Fiji Open Team, additional results were recorded where Yash Krishen Maharaj drew with Max Baron Nitzborn of Namibia, CM Rudr Prasad drew with Khaled Abdellahi Abdellahi of Mauritania in a classic opposite colored bishops match, and CM Manoj Kumar drew with Nicola D'manico of San Marino and CM Moulaye Ibrahim Hemam of Mauritania.

Yash Krishen Maharaj recorded one of the fastest Open Category wins of the Olympiad in a whopping 9 moves against Abner Farquar of Antigua and Barbuda!

Members of Team Fiji safely returned to their homes after a 45-hour journey that tread from Budapest, Hungary to China and Japan before landing at Nadi International Airport.

Details about the next upcoming tournament will be released by mid-October 2024.

(Photos: Team Fiji reps at Budapest, Hungary) ... See MoreSee Less

+7

Fiji Chess Federation

3 months ago

TEAM FIJI CHECKMATES PALAU, NETHERLANDS ANTILLES

Team Fiji rallied itself to beat more countries at the 45th World Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary, this week.

The Fiji Open Team defused a strong challenge from Palau where Board 1 Candidate Master (CM) Manoj Kumar held off John Ranel Morazo to a clinical draw, Board 2 CM Rudr Prasad outplayed Junior Santiago Tan, Board 3 CM Ronald Terubea defeated Angelo Salvadora, and Board 4 Yash Krishen Maharaj of The University of the South Pacific beat Junior Manuel Mahor.

Fiji Open won against Palau with 3.5 - 0.5.

"Full credit goes to our athletes who are working very hard to put Fiji on the scoreboard," states Open Captain CM Goru Arvind. "We were fortunate to receive 16 hours of online training from Grandmaster (GM) Samy Shoker of Egypt a few days before embarking on our 45-hour journey to Budapest, as part of an initiative by the FIDE Trainers' Commission."

The Fiji Women's Team also managed to record a win, where Board 1 Women's FIDE Master (WFM) Kieran Lyons beat Taqesyah Marcos, Board 2 Women's Candidate Master (WCM) Gloria Sukhu drew with Dainthely Pourier, Board 3 Tanvi Prasad of Jai Narayan College won against Liana Pieter, and Board 4 Makayla Sukhu of Suva Grammar School defeated Cianna Paris Hodge.

The Fiji Women's Team outplayed the Netherlands Antilles with 3.5 - 0.5.

"Sport psychology is a key factor in tournaments of this level," adds Goru Arvind. "As National reps, we are teaming up to share skills and ideas to strengthen each other and address weaknesses in play as much as possible. The beauty of chess is that it can never be completely mastered, and every game teaches us something new."

In other results, CM Ronald Terubea forced a draw against Shaief Chashawa of Suriname, and WFM Kieran Lyons registered a hard-fought draw with Women's International Master (WIM) Gabriella Johnson of Trinidad & Tobago.

Team Fiji is donning jackets and uniforms sponsored by Vodafone Fiji at the Olympiad.

(Photos: Members of Fiji's National Chess Team in Hungary) ... See MoreSee Less

Fiji Chess Federation

3 months ago

FIJI WHITEWASH DJIBOUTI, GRENADA IN CHESS OLYMPIAD

Team Fiji opened their scoreboard in the 45th World Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary, with a complete whitewash of their opponents from Djibouti and Grenada.

The Fiji Women's Team, captained by Development Instructor (DI) William Robert Raymond Bennion had Board 1 Women's FIDE Master (WFM) Kieran Lyons outplaying Mohamoud Elmi Johara, Board 2 Women's Candidate Master (WCM) Gloria Sukhu defeating Mohamde Ibrahim Moun, Board 3 WCM Cydel Terubea winning her match, and WCM Tanvi Prasad of Jai Narayan College prevailing against Ismail Hassan Sagual.

Fiji Women crushed Djibouti 4 - 0.

"It is a fine start for Team Fiji at Budapest," states Open Captain Goru Arvind. "A number of us felt jet lagged at the beginning of the Olympiad due to a -10 hour flip in comparison to Fiji, but hats off to our athletes for finding form early into the tournament that features almost 190 countries."

The Fiji Open Team displayed a clinical performance against their rivals, whereby Board 1 Candidate Master (CM) Manoj Kumar doused a strong challenge by Gilbert Renniel, Board 2 CM Rudr Prasad beat Gennard Roberts, Board 3 CM Ronald Terubea forced a resignation from Vladimir Mendez, and Board 4 Yash Krishen Maharaj of The University of the South Pacific defeated Thomas Tyler.

Fiji Open whitewashed Grenada 4 - 0.

"Olympiads are always a challenging experience for athletes where a good chunk of our mornings are spent to analyze chess openings to match their board opponents," adds Goru Arvind. "The average match we have been playing is about 4 hours per round, and to see every famous chess player we can think of in person is amazing."

In other results, WFM Kieran Lyons drew with WFM Adani Clarke of Jamaica, and Makayla Sukhu of Suva Grammar School beat Arielle Mcoy of Jamaica.

For the Fiji Open Team, CM Manoj Kumar recorded a hard fought draw with CM Md Omar Ak Hafizon Pg of Brunei Darussalam, while CM Ronald Terubea scored a win against Ak Abdul Wafie Pg Shahridin of Brunei Darussalam.

Members of Team Fiji are currently hosted at the Radisson Park-Inn Hotel at Budapest, Hungary, with several other competing chess teams like Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Malaysia and Japan.

(Photos: Team Fiji preparation in Budapest, Hungary) ... See MoreSee Less

+1

Fiji Chess Federation

3 months ago

HISTORICAL DRAW FOR FIJI IN CHESS OLYMPIAD

18-year-old Candidate Master (CM) Rudr Prasad of The University of the South Pacific had a historical start in the 45th World Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary, as he registered the second draw by a Fijian player against a Grandmaster (GM) in a World Chess Olympiad since 1979.

Playing against a very strong team from Ireland in the Open Division, Board 2 CM Rudr Prasad stunned GM Alexander Baburin by forcing the match into a rook and pawns dead draw, also making him the youngest Fijian player to ever score against a GM in any event.

The first draw against a GM was recorded by CM Calvin Prasad against GM Oscar De la Riva Aguado of Andorra in the 40th World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey, about 12 years ago.

"Rudr played an impressively solid match that felt like schoolboy chess, sticking to the very basics of shutting down your opponent and keeping it simple and solid," states Open Team Captain CM Goru Arvind. "He is focused, organized and patient in his gameplay, making his trajectory align itself to what is needed in a long-term National rep for Fiji. The GM had no answer in a very entertaining match which I enjoyed watching for over 4 hours."

GM Alexander Baburin is a famous chess icon who has authored books like Trends in the King's Indian - Four Pawns Attack, Trends in the Queen's Gambit Accepted - Volume 2, and Winning Pawn Structures. He is editor-in-chief of the digital newspaper Chess Today, and is a seasoned chess coach that is admired by many.

"Team Fiji is rallying itself well for the Olympiad despite very hectic schedules at work and school for our players that limited our time to prepare as chess players," adds Goru Arvind. "We also have Yash Krishen Maharaj and Makayla Sukhu, who are our young debutants in this Olympiad, and there will surely be a lot more good news coming our way, based on the talent and experience we have put together."

The 45th World Chess Olympiad is hosting over 2,500 athletes and officials from as many as 190 countries with a budget of EUR 16.6 million or FJD 40.7 million to cater for travel subsidy, hotel accommodation, security and logistics for all the world's best chess players in a single location.

Vodafone Fiji sponsored jackets and uniforms for the 13-member squad which includes Women's FIDE Master (WFM) Kieran Lyons, Women's Candidate Master (WCM) Gloria Sukhu, WCM Cydel Terubea, WCM Tanvi Prasad of Jai Narayan College, Makayla Sukhu of Suva Grammar School, Women's Captain William Bennion, CM Manoj Kumar, CM Rudr Prasad, CM Ronald Terubea, Yash Krishen Maharaj of The University of the South Pacific, Arena Candidate Master (ACM) Prashil Prakash, CM Goru Arvind and the Head of Delegation, CM Taione Sikivou.

(Photos: Team Fiji athletes land in Hungary) ... See MoreSee Less