Team Fiji made a resounding impact at the 45th World Chess Olympiad, securing two emphatic 4-0 victories against Djibouti and Grenada, putting themselves firmly on the scoreboard.

The Fiji Women’s Team, captained by Development Instructor William Robert Raymond Bennion, led the charge with commanding performances on all boards.

On Board 1, Women’s FIDE Master (WFM) Kieran Lyons outclassed Mohamoud Elmi Johara, while Women’s Candidate Master (WCM) Gloria Sukhu decisively overcame Mohamde Ibrahim Moun on Board 2.

The dominance continued as WCM Cydel Terubea and WCM Tanvi Prasad, a standout player from Jai Narayan College, claimed victories against their Djibouti counterparts on Boards 3 and 4, completing a flawless sweep with a 4-0 scoreline.

“It’s a fine start for Team Fiji at Budapest,” said Open Captain Goru Arvind. “Despite some initial jet lag from the 10-hour time difference, our players found their rhythm early. Competing against nearly 190 countries, this performance is a great boost.”

Not to be outdone, Fiji’s Open Team delivered a clinical performance against Grenada. On Board 1, Candidate Master (CM) Manoj Kumar displayed his skill by outmaneuvering Gilbert Renniel.

Board 2 saw CM Rudr Prasad secure a strong win against Gennard Roberts, while CM Ronald Terubea forced a resignation from Vladimir Mendez on Board 3.

The final victory came from Yash Krishen Maharaj of The University of the South Pacific, who sealed the 4-0 whitewash by defeating Thomas Tyler on Board 4.

“Olympiads are always challenging, with long mornings spent analyzing chess openings to counter opponents,” added Arvind. “Each match lasts around four hours, and seeing so many famous chess players in person is incredible.”

Fiji’s momentum continued in subsequent rounds. WFM Kieran Lyons held a draw against Jamaica’s WFM Adani Clarke, while rising star Makayla Sukhu from Suva Grammar School secured a key win against Arielle Mcoy, also of Jamaica.

In the Open division, CM Manoj Kumar fought to a draw against CM Md Omar Ak Hafizon Pg of Brunei Darussalam, and CM Ronald Terubea chalked up another win, defeating Ak Abdul Wafie Pg Shahridin of Brunei Darussalam.

Team Fiji is staying at the Radisson Park-Inn Hotel in Budapest, sharing accommodations with teams from Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Malaysia, and Japan, as they continue to compete against some of the world’s top chess nations.

Fiji’s early results set a positive tone for the tournament, proving that their players are ready to take on the world at the chessboard.