Dominica is set to make history by marking its presence in the 45th Chess Olympiad, scheduled to take place in Budapest from September 10 to 23, 2024. The Dominican Chess Federation has announced the selection of five male and five female players for the international tournament.
The players were selected based on their standout performances in national tournaments last year. Representing Dominica in the Open Tournament are Jones Murphy, Robert Bridet, Nigel Francis, Larry Thomas, and Lyndon Auguiste. Competing in the Women’s Tournament are Ayani Casimir, Liudmila Domennova, Zahidu Henry, Desalee Daniel, and Dorothy Jno Baptiste.
The 45th Chess Olympiad will feature two tournaments: the Open Tournament, which is open to players with an Elo rating below 2300, and the Women’s Tournament, open to female players with an Elo rating below 2200.
The tournaments will take place in the Swiss format (11 rounds) with traditional time control (90 minutes per game plus a 30-second increment from move one).
Organized biennially by the International Chess Federation (FIDE), this tournament is a significant global event. The Chess Olympiad is a team competition for national chess federations striving for gold medals and the title of strongest chess nation. Over 190 teams will join the Open section. Dominica’s participation highlights its openness and commitment to encourage sports and gender equality.
The Dominica Chess Federation is encouraging progress in the women’s team this year, which goes well with FIDE’s goal of increasing female players and achieving gender balance in chess. The women players have proved that achieving anything with dedication and hard work is possible under Thea Lafond, the nation’s first Olympic gold medallist, making her an inspiration for many aspiring young women. Lafond recently made history at the 2024 World Indoor Championship in Glasgow, becoming Dominica’s first-ever world champion. After narrowly missing the podium in both the 2022 and 2023 World Championships, this victory marks her first global medal, solidifying her place as a role model for the next generation.
The teams have undergone extensive training with international coaches to prepare for the event, with the Federation acknowledging the support of sponsors, including FIDE and the Dominica Olympic Committee. Mr. Ian Dorival, the president of the Dominica Chess Federation, will represent the Federation as a delegate at the FIDE 2024 Congress in Budapest from September 17 to 22.
Notably, the Dominica Chess Federation expressed their gratitude, stating, “Our heartfelt thanks to the DOC for its continued partnership and investment in the Federation, which enables us to fulfill our mandate of promoting and improving chess on the island.”
