A total of twelve students from the U.S Virgin Islands participated in the National K-12 Scholastic Chess tournament in Washington DC, from March 31st to April 3rd and returned home on April 4th, with much accolade. This national event was organized by the United States Chess Federation.

This year, over three thousand of the best chess playing students from across our nation and the U.S. Virgin Islands, merged at the Hilton Hotel in Washington DC. to represent their states, schools, and clubs. This was a seven round chess tournament that lasted for four days. The 12 student participants from our Youth Scholastic Chess Club on St. Thomas (STYSCC), and members of the Virgin Islands Chess Association achieved an overall performance that was nothing short of commendable. Our students were often praised by many coaches on the national level for their playing abilities and overall attitude. 

In a seven round National chess tournament, any score that is 3.5 or better is a good score.

Overall Performance

• 7 of our 12 students scored a 3.5 or better.

• 1 student, Abram Williams, who is home schooled, scored in all his games and won a bronze medal with a 5.5-point score. He received his medal on the big stage in the presence of thousands of students and coaches, and he represented the Virgin Islands with pride. He was also placed 3rd in the 9th grade category.

• The other students who scored 3.5 and better were Tendaji Davis, (5.0) he attends the Montessori school. Eli Blondeau (5.0) he attends Antilles, Dillen Webbe (4.0) he attends Antilles, Ajay Mirpuri (4.0) he attends Antilles, Gerlanni Straun (3.5) he attends the Addelita Cancryn, Natik Jhanwar (3.5) he attends All Saints, and Jermaine Jones (3.5) he attends the Ivanna Eudora Kean High School. The performance and behavior of our other 5 students were admirable.

Note: The trophy rules for this tournament were changed. If our students had scored the same results under the 2019 or 2022 rules, seven of our 12 students would have received a trophy. The new rule has shifted from a 3.5 to a 5.5 score to receive a medal.

At the end of this chess event, our students, coaches, and parent chaperones, took an historic tour of Washington DC. We visited the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King Statue, Arlington Ceremony, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and saw the changing of the guards. They saw the White House, the Mint, the FBI building, and the Capitol.

A big thank you to all who assisted STYSCC students and made it possible for our students to participate in this K-12 national event.  Your suggestions, words of encouragement, and financial support were greatly appreciated. We would especially like to thank the Rotary Club of St. Thomas 11 for supporting our Youth Scholastic Chess Club and providing some of the necessary funds that helped with the airfare for many of these students. This trip would not be possible without the continuous support of the Rotary Club of St. Thomas II.

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