Team Fiji closed the 2024-2025 Global Chess League season at 27 out of 77 international chess clubs after adding further to the scoreboard. Featuring chess clubs from Serbia, Iran, Great Britain, Scotland, South Africa, China, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Poland, Philippines, Hawaii, Singapore, Mexico, Italy and many others, the league is an online favorite hosted by Peter Hornsby of England.
Captained by ex-Olympiad rep Avinesh Nadan, Fiji's Online Chess Team won against Hawaii Chess Club, Chess Heroes Juniors (South Africa), Chongqing Mystyland Locust (China), and North Staff Knights (UK) apart from a draw with Shenzhen Pengcheng Chess Club (China) in a team effort that experimented with several new players.
"We introduced Lionel Vaurasi of Yat Sen Primary School and Aarush Ahalawat of Mahatma Gandhi Memorial High School in the latter half of the season," states Online Chess rep Goru Arvind. "Exposing our younger players to international opponents is part of our long-term plan to contribute to their confidence and learning curve."
In the match against Shenzhen Pengchen Chess Club, Board 1 Yash Krishen Maharaj and Board 3 Candidate Master (CM) Goru Arvind fell to Terry Fan and Shengchen Yu, while Board 3 CM Ronald Terubea won against Ben Guo 2 - 0, and Board 4 CM Rudr Prasad defeated Bangting Cao 2 - 0 in a strong fightback.
Fiji drew with Shenzhen Pengchen Chess Club (China) 4 - 4.
"Online chess is a unique sport that allows us to face-off with international opponents without the burden of travel," adds Goru Arvind. "The last set of games with live commentary by Peter Hornsby and South African Chess Coach, Andrew Horne raked at least 137,000 online views to show the magnitude of the event."
Against higher ranked North Staff Knights (UK), Board 1 Avinesh Nadan lead the onslaught by beating Harry Gardiner 2 - 0, Board 2 Yash Krishen Maharaj drew with Simon Layhe 1 - 1, Board 3 CM Rudr Prasad defeated Alan Paling 1.5 - 0.5, and Board 4 CM Goru Arvind locked in a tie against Phil Seery 1 - 1.
The combined team effort on all boards saw Fiji win against North Staff Knights (UK) 5.5 - 2.5.
Fiji's final match against Philippines Finest was a tough one where the opposition fielded a Grandmaster (GM) on Board 1, losing 1.5 - 8.5 with the lone scores coming from CM Goru Arvind (0.5) and Aarush Ahalawat (1).
Team Fiji will return to the next online season with more new players in September 2025, with over-the-board tournaments in the pipeline to aim for the 2026 World Chess Olympiad at Uzbekistan.
(Photo: Fiji's National reps having fun analyzing chess) ... See MoreSee Less
Fiji's Online Chess Team piled up a hat-trick of wins in the 2025 Global Chess League that is hosted by Peter Hornsby of the United Kingdom (UK). The league features 77 international chess clubs from countries like Fiji, England, Great Britain, Poland, Czech Republic, Serbia, China, Hawaii, South Africa, Philippines, Mexico, Iran, Brazil, Chile, Germany, Australia and New Zealand to name a few.
Team Fiji started the tournament with an upset win over the higher rated Hawaii Chess Club, where Board 1 Candidate Master (CM) Taione Sikivou beat Igor Dmitriev 1.5 - 0.5, Board 2 Avinesh Nadan fell to Charles Sonido 0 - 2, Board 3 CM Ronald Terubea outclassed Chad Badgett 1.5 - 0.5, Board 4 CM Goru Arvind drew with Evan Zheng 1 - 1, and Board 5 Yash Krishen Maharaj defeated Hadriel Goo 1.5 - 0.5.
Fiji edged Hawaii Chess Club 5.5 - 4.5.
"It was a very tough match with Hawaii but the win came with team effort," states CM Goru Arvind. "Their captain messaged afterwards that they fielded a stronger team than the 2024 season where we were whitewashed 0 - 8, and it was a surprising comeback for Team Fiji."
In the match against Chess Heroes Juniors from South Africa, Board 1 Team Captain Avinesh Nadan demolished Vicent Crone 2 - 0, Board 2 Yash Krishen Maharaj beat Connor Cruikshanks 2 - 0, and Board 3 CM Goru Arvind defeated Wolf Van Der Merwe 1.5 - 0.5 to complete the victory.
Fiji won against Chess Heroes Juniors (South Africa) 5.5 - 2.5, despite falling a player short on Board 4.
"The Global Chess League allows our players to face-off with international clubs from every continent," adds Goru Arvind. "With a 10 minutes plus 5 seconds per move format, some of our games are also broadcast online with 75,000+ viewers with live commentary by South African Chess Coach Andrew Horne and the tournament host Peter Hornsby. Audience like that is usually seen for 7s rugby."
Against Chongqing Mystyland Locust of China, Board 1 Avinesh Nadan fell to Qipeng Qian 0 - 2, Board 2 Yash Krishen Maharaj crushed Yanbo He 2 - 0, Board 3 CM Goru Arvind drew with Pengfei Leng 1 - 1, and Board 4 Ryan Lyons outwitted Tianli Zhang 2 - 0.
Last Saturday, March 15, 2025, USP Chess Club kicked off the year with their first tournament 🏆—a day filled with thrilling games ♟️ and unexpected upsets 🤯. Thank you to everyone who participated and supported the players 🙌. Great to see a healthy turnout for one of our smaller clubs. Stay tuned for more exciting chess action ahead! ... See MoreSee Less
Congratulations to USP Chess Club and to Rudr for winning the tournament.
Rudr is on fire starting 2025!!
Hope usp organises another tournament open to public
How can I join ??
Who & How can we join your usp chess club
Grateful if you can also provide the timetable, age, membership fee etc
15 INTERNATIONAL TITLES, 2 NOMINATIONS FOR FIJI CHESS
Athletes, officials and administrators from Fiji Chess Federation collectively bagged 15 International Titles from the World Chess Federation (FIDE) in 2024. The feat was achieved with a membership pool of less than 100 chess players across the nation.
Administrative and official titles were achieved through accredited certification courses offered by FIDE, which include a mix of online seminars by Grandmasters (GMs), International Masters (IMs), FIDE Masters (FMs) and FIDE Arbiters (FAs) from the United Kingdom (UK), the United States of America (USA), Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Europe. Titles are awarded after a 2-hour online exam is assessed by FIDE.
FIDE School Instructor (SI) titles were awarded to Ricardo Gregorio III Corpuz and Taione Sikivou, while FIDE National Arbiter (NA) titles were secured by Matthew Sukhu, Anthony Tabore and Quinton Sukhu.
"15 international titles from FIDE is the best we have achieved since 1979," states Candidate Master (CM) Goru Arvind. "It converts to almost 15% of our chess players receiving international recognition in a single year, and it makes a statement for Fiji in the Oceania region."
Both Team Captains and the Head of Delegation from the 45th World Chess Olympiad at Budapest, Hungary cleared their certifications. A FIDE Instructor (FI) title was received by Taione Sikivou, FIDE National Instructor (NI) title was awarded to Goru Arvind, and FIDE Development Instructor (DI) title was confirmed for William Robert Raymond Bennion.
Additional NI titles were issued to ex-Olympiad rep Gloria Sukhu, Luisa Corpuz and Yash Krishen Maharaj of The University of the South Pacific.
"In the world of chess, titles are permanent milestones that help to increase a nation's profile," adds Goru Arvind. "Certification and exams are possible via platforms like Google Meet and Zoom, and it shows how technology can bridge geographical gaps in sports."
From the 44th World Chess Olympiad at Chennai, India, a Candidate Master (CM) title was confirmed for Rudr Prasad of The University of the South Pacific, and Women's Candidate Master (WCM) titles were awarded to Cydel Terubea and Tanvi Prasad.
17-year-old Makayla Sukhu of Suva Grammar School became the youngest title holder of the lot, with a WCM from the 45th World Chess Olympiad at Budapest, Hungary for her impressive performance at the event.
Fiji Chess Federation will be further celebrating their presence among 114 nominees in the upcoming 2024 Fiji Sports Awards on Saturday 22 March, for Sportswoman of the Year (Makayla Sukhu) and Sports Organization of the Year (Fiji Chess Federation).
(Photo: Fiji's National reps at Budapest, Hungary) ... See MoreSee Less
Thanks for sharing this compilation of report for Fiji Chess Federation. Very well written. My heartiest congratulations on achievement in the world of chess . It's no mean achievement 😕. Have a peaceful day. Take care 🙏
Well done Fiji Chess Federation!
Heaps of congratulations to Arvind Goru n all chess players
Arvind as a toddler n his family was close family freind
Chess inspired my son n today my grandson plays chess in NZ .thax for sharing
Congratulations Makayla, Gloria, Matthew, Quinton and Fiji Chess Federation.
Part 2/2 - Watch our Fiji Chess Federation Vice- President, Roshika Deo, and President, Hilda Kunau, on Breakfast at Fiji One with Tevita and Jon this morning! They discussed the exciting growth of chess in Fiji, upcoming tournaments, and the future of the game. Check out Part 2 of the full interview below♟️🇫🇯 #fijichess#ChessForAll#TheBreakfastShow... See MoreSee Less
Part 1/2 - Watch our Fiji Chess Federation President, Hilda Kunau, and Vice-President, Roshika Deo, on Breakfast at Fiji One with Tevita and Jon this morning! They discussed the exciting growth of chess in Fiji, upcoming tournaments, and the future of the game. Check out Part 1 of the full interview below♟️🇫🇯 #fijichess#ChessForAll#TheBreakfastShow... See MoreSee Less
The Fiji Chess Federation was proud to be represented by Silivia Kainamoli, Frederick Sukhu, and Hilda Kunau at the National Sporting Organisations (NSO) Conference, hosted by the Fiji National Sports Commission last week on Thursday and Friday, 6th and 7th March. All 45 NSOs in Fiji were invited, and it was inspiring to engage with fellow sporting bodies, share insights, and witness the collective vision shaping the future of sports in Fiji.
With International Women’s Day approaching, the Fiji Chess Federation is thrilled to announce its new executive board for the next two years, featuring six women among its seven members. This follows the Annual General Meeting held on Saturday, March 1, at the Fiji Olympic House in Suva, which saw over 60 members in attendance.
Historically, the Federation has been a male-dominated board, but recent efforts have accelerated the support for women in leadership roles, helping to challenge stereotypes and promote greater gender equality within the organisation.
“I am excited to be on the executive board especially since I have been playing chess since I was six years old. I look forward to working with other executives and strengthening my leadership skills”, said Women’s Candidate Master Tanvi Prasad, 19-year-old Executive Board member.
The newly appointed President, Women’s FIDE Master Hilda Kunau, who will lead the Fiji Chess Federation for the next two years, said, “It is an exciting time for chess in Fiji, as we proudly lead with a majority women-led board. This milestone serves as a springboard to advance women’s leadership and elevate the game. We have a capable, committed, and passionate team, and together we aim to grow our membership, collaborate with disability rights groups, and organise a girls and women chess championship. A major challenge we face is securing sponsorship, which is vital for our initiatives. We are actively seeking partnerships with organisations that align with our vision to develop chess in Fiji and increase the presence of chess in schools.”
The Fiji Chess Federation is seeking to collaborate with potential sponsors to support the growth of chess, a game that attracts many young people and helps them develop essential skills such as strategic thinking and problem-solving. Chess also provides a platform for social interaction and community building. We look forward to working with key stakeholders to further the development of chess and contribute to the well-being and growth of individuals in Fiji.
-Ends-
If you are interested in sponsoring or knowing more, please email fijichessfederation@gmail.com. ... See MoreSee Less
Congratulations
Mix of both experience and new blood.
All the best for 2025.
Women and one gentleman from different background with a common goal to promote chess in Fiji.
Please don't forget West competitions.
Congratulations
A huge congratulations to Hilda Kunau and the Fiji Chess Federation! 🎉🎉🎉
My heartiest congratulations. Best wishes in all your future endeavors. God bless you all
Candidate Master (CM) Rudr Prasad, Yash Krishen Maharaj and CM Goru Arvind of The University of the South Pacific collectively dominated the 2025 National Blitz Chess Championship to follow-up their last outing at the 45th World Chess Olympiad at Budapest, Hungary with an equal score of 10/12. The trio finished first, second and third respectively by virtue of direct encounter.
CM Rudr Prasad was crowned the National Blitz Chess Champion for a consecutive year.
The tournament attracted a record number of 50 players under a 3 minutes plus 2 seconds per move time control, where victory can be claimed by checkmate, flag-fall of the opponent's timer and two illegal moves by the opposition.
"It was a wild tournament where the overall winner was decided in the final round," states Fiji Chess Federation Volunteer Goru Arvind. "All 50 players lost a few matches here and there, and it shows how unpredictable blitz can be for even the best of players."
The Women's National Blitz Chess Champion title was secured by WCM Gloria Sukhu who tallied 8/12, ahead of Useli Herath of Jai Narayan College who came second with an impressive 7.5/12. Jacquelyn Masilomani finished third with 7/12.
Zayne Elmond Keshwan of Jai Narayan College showcased his talent by winning the Secondary School Division with a solid score of 8/12.
The Primary School Division was won by upcoming talent Lionel Vaurasi from Yat Sen Primary School with 7.5/12, after previously defeating Marc Delrieu of Vanuatu at the 2025 Oceania Zonal Chess Championship at Melbourne, Australia.
"More than 80% of our participants came from Primary and Secondary School," adds Goru Arvind. "We have high hopes to introduce some new talent in the 2026 World Chess Olympiad at Uzbekistan, so our senior players are keeping an eye for raw talent that can be developed into a National Athlete."
In special awards, debutante George Mow had a double-celebration when he secured the Best Beginner Award for scoring 6/12 in his first chess tournament, and the Best Upset Award for defeating WCM Tanvi Prasad in a stunning game.
Shaurya Gupta won the Best Upset of the Tournament Award for winning against CM Rudr Prasad by flag-fall to rattle the leadership board.
All winners received medals and trophies sponsored by Fiji Chess Federation, and the next tournament will be announced at the Federation's official Facebook page.
(Photos: Chess players at the Fiji Olympic House) ... See MoreSee Less
FIJI IN TOP 30 OF GLOBAL CHESS LEAGUE
Team Fiji closed the 2024-2025 Global Chess League season at 27 out of 77 international chess clubs after adding further to the scoreboard. Featuring chess clubs from Serbia, Iran, Great Britain, Scotland, South Africa, China, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Poland, Philippines, Hawaii, Singapore, Mexico, Italy and many others, the league is an online favorite hosted by Peter Hornsby of England.
Captained by ex-Olympiad rep Avinesh Nadan, Fiji's Online Chess Team won against Hawaii Chess Club, Chess Heroes Juniors (South Africa), Chongqing Mystyland Locust (China), and North Staff Knights (UK) apart from a draw with Shenzhen Pengcheng Chess Club (China) in a team effort that experimented with several new players.
"We introduced Lionel Vaurasi of Yat Sen Primary School and Aarush Ahalawat of Mahatma Gandhi Memorial High School in the latter half of the season," states Online Chess rep Goru Arvind. "Exposing our younger players to international opponents is part of our long-term plan to contribute to their confidence and learning curve."
In the match against Shenzhen Pengchen Chess Club, Board 1 Yash Krishen Maharaj and Board 3 Candidate Master (CM) Goru Arvind fell to Terry Fan and Shengchen Yu, while Board 3 CM Ronald Terubea won against Ben Guo 2 - 0, and Board 4 CM Rudr Prasad defeated Bangting Cao 2 - 0 in a strong fightback.
Fiji drew with Shenzhen Pengchen Chess Club (China) 4 - 4.
"Online chess is a unique sport that allows us to face-off with international opponents without the burden of travel," adds Goru Arvind. "The last set of games with live commentary by Peter Hornsby and South African Chess Coach, Andrew Horne raked at least 137,000 online views to show the magnitude of the event."
Against higher ranked North Staff Knights (UK), Board 1 Avinesh Nadan lead the onslaught by beating Harry Gardiner 2 - 0, Board 2 Yash Krishen Maharaj drew with Simon Layhe 1 - 1, Board 3 CM Rudr Prasad defeated Alan Paling 1.5 - 0.5, and Board 4 CM Goru Arvind locked in a tie against Phil Seery 1 - 1.
The combined team effort on all boards saw Fiji win against North Staff Knights (UK) 5.5 - 2.5.
Fiji's final match against Philippines Finest was a tough one where the opposition fielded a Grandmaster (GM) on Board 1, losing 1.5 - 8.5 with the lone scores coming from CM Goru Arvind (0.5) and Aarush Ahalawat (1).
Team Fiji will return to the next online season with more new players in September 2025, with over-the-board tournaments in the pipeline to aim for the 2026 World Chess Olympiad at Uzbekistan.
(Photo: Fiji's National reps having fun analyzing chess) ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Congratulations team Fiji and mapiga Lionel Vaurasi 👍❤️
👏
Wow. Beautiful. All the best to all contestants
Well done Chess Team Fiji.
👏👏👏🇫🇯Awesome Team Fiji!!Congratulations!
Vinaka Team Fiji Well Done Guru
Good job kids.
GO FIJI GO!!!!!!
Congratulations Rudr 🎊
Rudr Prasad
Simran Lal
Congratulations
Vinaka Viti💯💯
Congratulations Team Fiji! Well done! 👏
View more comments
ONLINE CHESS TEAM SCORES HAT-TRICK
Fiji's Online Chess Team piled up a hat-trick of wins in the 2025 Global Chess League that is hosted by Peter Hornsby of the United Kingdom (UK). The league features 77 international chess clubs from countries like Fiji, England, Great Britain, Poland, Czech Republic, Serbia, China, Hawaii, South Africa, Philippines, Mexico, Iran, Brazil, Chile, Germany, Australia and New Zealand to name a few.
Team Fiji started the tournament with an upset win over the higher rated Hawaii Chess Club, where Board 1 Candidate Master (CM) Taione Sikivou beat Igor Dmitriev 1.5 - 0.5, Board 2 Avinesh Nadan fell to Charles Sonido 0 - 2, Board 3 CM Ronald Terubea outclassed Chad Badgett 1.5 - 0.5, Board 4 CM Goru Arvind drew with Evan Zheng 1 - 1, and Board 5 Yash Krishen Maharaj defeated Hadriel Goo 1.5 - 0.5.
Fiji edged Hawaii Chess Club 5.5 - 4.5.
"It was a very tough match with Hawaii but the win came with team effort," states CM Goru Arvind. "Their captain messaged afterwards that they fielded a stronger team than the 2024 season where we were whitewashed 0 - 8, and it was a surprising comeback for Team Fiji."
In the match against Chess Heroes Juniors from South Africa, Board 1 Team Captain Avinesh Nadan demolished Vicent Crone 2 - 0, Board 2 Yash Krishen Maharaj beat Connor Cruikshanks 2 - 0, and Board 3 CM Goru Arvind defeated Wolf Van Der Merwe 1.5 - 0.5 to complete the victory.
Fiji won against Chess Heroes Juniors (South Africa) 5.5 - 2.5, despite falling a player short on Board 4.
"The Global Chess League allows our players to face-off with international clubs from every continent," adds Goru Arvind. "With a 10 minutes plus 5 seconds per move format, some of our games are also broadcast online with 75,000+ viewers with live commentary by South African Chess Coach Andrew Horne and the tournament host Peter Hornsby. Audience like that is usually seen for 7s rugby."
Against Chongqing Mystyland Locust of China, Board 1 Avinesh Nadan fell to Qipeng Qian 0 - 2, Board 2 Yash Krishen Maharaj crushed Yanbo He 2 - 0, Board 3 CM Goru Arvind drew with Pengfei Leng 1 - 1, and Board 4 Ryan Lyons outwitted Tianli Zhang 2 - 0.
Fiji defeated Chongqing Mystyland Locust (China) 5 - 3.
The series of wins have propelled Team Fiji into the upper percentile of teams in the tournament, with much harder games to follow in weeks to come.
More news is set to follow as the event progresses.
(Photo: Members of Team Fiji's Online Chess squad) ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Congratulations
Well done team Fiji. Good job Avinesh.
Congratulations
Well done guys!
Just whoo about fiji team Blessings to the team 🙏 Arvind keep flying fiji 🇫🇯
Congratulations my boy
Congratulations on an epic victory Fiji Chess! 👏
Avinesh Nadan 👌🙌
Thank you Andrew Horne and ChessHeroes for covering the league as always 👏🎉
Congrats 👍
Well done Fiji great to have you involved with www.worldchessleague.live congrats Goru Arvind and Avinesh Nadan for organizing
View more comments
Last Saturday, March 15, 2025, USP Chess Club kicked off the year with their first tournament 🏆—a day filled with thrilling games ♟️ and unexpected upsets 🤯. Thank you to everyone who participated and supported the players 🙌. Great to see a healthy turnout for one of our smaller clubs. Stay tuned for more exciting chess action ahead! ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Congratulations USP chessclub
Congratulations to USP Chess Club and to Rudr for winning the tournament. Rudr is on fire starting 2025!! Hope usp organises another tournament open to public
How can I join ??
Who & How can we join your usp chess club Grateful if you can also provide the timetable, age, membership fee etc
15 INTERNATIONAL TITLES, 2 NOMINATIONS FOR FIJI CHESS
Athletes, officials and administrators from Fiji Chess Federation collectively bagged 15 International Titles from the World Chess Federation (FIDE) in 2024. The feat was achieved with a membership pool of less than 100 chess players across the nation.
Administrative and official titles were achieved through accredited certification courses offered by FIDE, which include a mix of online seminars by Grandmasters (GMs), International Masters (IMs), FIDE Masters (FMs) and FIDE Arbiters (FAs) from the United Kingdom (UK), the United States of America (USA), Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Europe. Titles are awarded after a 2-hour online exam is assessed by FIDE.
FIDE School Instructor (SI) titles were awarded to Ricardo Gregorio III Corpuz and Taione Sikivou, while FIDE National Arbiter (NA) titles were secured by Matthew Sukhu, Anthony Tabore and Quinton Sukhu.
"15 international titles from FIDE is the best we have achieved since 1979," states Candidate Master (CM) Goru Arvind. "It converts to almost 15% of our chess players receiving international recognition in a single year, and it makes a statement for Fiji in the Oceania region."
Both Team Captains and the Head of Delegation from the 45th World Chess Olympiad at Budapest, Hungary cleared their certifications. A FIDE Instructor (FI) title was received by Taione Sikivou, FIDE National Instructor (NI) title was awarded to Goru Arvind, and FIDE Development Instructor (DI) title was confirmed for William Robert Raymond Bennion.
Additional NI titles were issued to ex-Olympiad rep Gloria Sukhu, Luisa Corpuz and Yash Krishen Maharaj of The University of the South Pacific.
"In the world of chess, titles are permanent milestones that help to increase a nation's profile," adds Goru Arvind. "Certification and exams are possible via platforms like Google Meet and Zoom, and it shows how technology can bridge geographical gaps in sports."
From the 44th World Chess Olympiad at Chennai, India, a Candidate Master (CM) title was confirmed for Rudr Prasad of The University of the South Pacific, and Women's Candidate Master (WCM) titles were awarded to Cydel Terubea and Tanvi Prasad.
17-year-old Makayla Sukhu of Suva Grammar School became the youngest title holder of the lot, with a WCM from the 45th World Chess Olympiad at Budapest, Hungary for her impressive performance at the event.
Fiji Chess Federation will be further celebrating their presence among 114 nominees in the upcoming 2024 Fiji Sports Awards on Saturday 22 March, for Sportswoman of the Year (Makayla Sukhu) and Sports Organization of the Year (Fiji Chess Federation).
(Photo: Fiji's National reps at Budapest, Hungary) ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Thanks for sharing this compilation of report for Fiji Chess Federation. Very well written. My heartiest congratulations on achievement in the world of chess . It's no mean achievement 😕. Have a peaceful day. Take care 🙏
Well done Fiji Chess Federation!
Heaps of congratulations to Arvind Goru n all chess players Arvind as a toddler n his family was close family freind Chess inspired my son n today my grandson plays chess in NZ .thax for sharing
Congratulations Makayla, Gloria, Matthew, Quinton and Fiji Chess Federation.
Congratulations
Excellent 👌👌. Greetings from Kenya
View more comments
Part 2/2 - Watch our Fiji Chess Federation Vice- President, Roshika Deo, and President, Hilda Kunau, on Breakfast at Fiji One with Tevita and Jon this morning! They discussed the exciting growth of chess in Fiji, upcoming tournaments, and the future of the game. Check out Part 2 of the full interview below♟️🇫🇯 #fijichess #ChessForAll #TheBreakfastShow ... See MoreSee Less
This content isn't available right now
When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.Comment on Facebook
Part 1/2 - Watch our Fiji Chess Federation President, Hilda Kunau, and Vice-President, Roshika Deo, on Breakfast at Fiji One with Tevita and Jon this morning! They discussed the exciting growth of chess in Fiji, upcoming tournaments, and the future of the game. Check out Part 1 of the full interview below♟️🇫🇯 #fijichess #ChessForAll #TheBreakfastShow ... See MoreSee Less
This content isn't available right now
When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.Comment on Facebook
The Fiji Chess Federation was proud to be represented by Silivia Kainamoli, Frederick Sukhu, and Hilda Kunau at the National Sporting Organisations (NSO) Conference, hosted by the Fiji National Sports Commission last week on Thursday and Friday, 6th and 7th March. All 45 NSOs in Fiji were invited, and it was inspiring to engage with fellow sporting bodies, share insights, and witness the collective vision shaping the future of sports in Fiji.
#nsoconference2025 #sportstheengineofchange #fijichess ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Press Release
7 March 2025
Women at the Helm of Chess in Fiji
With International Women’s Day approaching, the Fiji Chess Federation is thrilled to announce its new executive board for the next two years, featuring six women among its seven members. This follows the Annual General Meeting held on Saturday, March 1, at the Fiji Olympic House in Suva, which saw over 60 members in attendance.
Historically, the Federation has been a male-dominated board, but recent efforts have accelerated the support for women in leadership roles, helping to challenge stereotypes and promote greater gender equality within the organisation.
“I am excited to be on the executive board especially since I have been playing chess since I was six years old. I look forward to working with other executives and strengthening my leadership skills”, said Women’s Candidate Master Tanvi Prasad, 19-year-old Executive Board member.
The newly appointed President, Women’s FIDE Master Hilda Kunau, who will lead the Fiji Chess Federation for the next two years, said, “It is an exciting time for chess in Fiji, as we proudly lead with a majority women-led board. This milestone serves as a springboard to advance women’s leadership and elevate the game. We have a capable, committed, and passionate team, and together we aim to grow our membership, collaborate with disability rights groups, and organise a girls and women chess championship. A major challenge we face is securing sponsorship, which is vital for our initiatives. We are actively seeking partnerships with organisations that align with our vision to develop chess in Fiji and increase the presence of chess in schools.”
The Fiji Chess Federation is seeking to collaborate with potential sponsors to support the growth of chess, a game that attracts many young people and helps them develop essential skills such as strategic thinking and problem-solving. Chess also provides a platform for social interaction and community building. We look forward to working with key stakeholders to further the development of chess and contribute to the well-being and growth of individuals in Fiji.
-Ends-
If you are interested in sponsoring or knowing more, please email fijichessfederation@gmail.com. ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Congratulations
Congratulations Hilda Kunau. Alalum
Congrats Hilda Kunau Hilda. Well deserved
Congratulations
best wishes and good luck
Congratulations
Congratulations Mix of both experience and new blood. All the best for 2025. Women and one gentleman from different background with a common goal to promote chess in Fiji. Please don't forget West competitions.
Congratulations
A huge congratulations to Hilda Kunau and the Fiji Chess Federation! 🎉🎉🎉
My heartiest congratulations. Best wishes in all your future endeavors. God bless you all
Congratulations
Congrat
View more comments
USP TRIO ROAR IN BLITZ CHESS
Candidate Master (CM) Rudr Prasad, Yash Krishen Maharaj and CM Goru Arvind of The University of the South Pacific collectively dominated the 2025 National Blitz Chess Championship to follow-up their last outing at the 45th World Chess Olympiad at Budapest, Hungary with an equal score of 10/12. The trio finished first, second and third respectively by virtue of direct encounter.
CM Rudr Prasad was crowned the National Blitz Chess Champion for a consecutive year.
The tournament attracted a record number of 50 players under a 3 minutes plus 2 seconds per move time control, where victory can be claimed by checkmate, flag-fall of the opponent's timer and two illegal moves by the opposition.
"It was a wild tournament where the overall winner was decided in the final round," states Fiji Chess Federation Volunteer Goru Arvind. "All 50 players lost a few matches here and there, and it shows how unpredictable blitz can be for even the best of players."
The Women's National Blitz Chess Champion title was secured by WCM Gloria Sukhu who tallied 8/12, ahead of Useli Herath of Jai Narayan College who came second with an impressive 7.5/12. Jacquelyn Masilomani finished third with 7/12.
Zayne Elmond Keshwan of Jai Narayan College showcased his talent by winning the Secondary School Division with a solid score of 8/12.
The Primary School Division was won by upcoming talent Lionel Vaurasi from Yat Sen Primary School with 7.5/12, after previously defeating Marc Delrieu of Vanuatu at the 2025 Oceania Zonal Chess Championship at Melbourne, Australia.
"More than 80% of our participants came from Primary and Secondary School," adds Goru Arvind. "We have high hopes to introduce some new talent in the 2026 World Chess Olympiad at Uzbekistan, so our senior players are keeping an eye for raw talent that can be developed into a National Athlete."
In special awards, debutante George Mow had a double-celebration when he secured the Best Beginner Award for scoring 6/12 in his first chess tournament, and the Best Upset Award for defeating WCM Tanvi Prasad in a stunning game.
Shaurya Gupta won the Best Upset of the Tournament Award for winning against CM Rudr Prasad by flag-fall to rattle the leadership board.
All winners received medals and trophies sponsored by Fiji Chess Federation, and the next tournament will be announced at the Federation's official Facebook page.
(Photos: Chess players at the Fiji Olympic House) ... See MoreSee Less
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Congratulations ❤️
Congratulations 🎈🎉🎊
Congratulations
Congratulations to the winners..
Congratulations!!! All stay blessed.
Congratulations!!
Congrats 👏
Excellent. Greetings from Kenya
Oke..
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