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.

-Fiji Chess