Team VI returns from Samarkand with three Candidate Masters
The British Virgin Islands Chess Federation said it also received notice that Jhon Samuel is now eligible for his conditional Candidate Master title, based on an achievement he secured during the Territory’s return to Olympiad competition in Chennai, India, in 2022.
According to a Facebook post from the Federation, the three players’ accomplishments together represent a significant milestone for chess in the Virgin Islands and highlight progress through youth development, international competition, and exposure to higher-level play.
The achievements came as Team VI competed at the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The event brought together more than 200 national teams for 11 rounds of over-the-board competition and was described as one of the largest editions in the Olympiad’s history.
Joseph delivers strong Open-Team performance
Eighteen-year-old Shamoy Joseph produced a strong individual campaign with the Open team. He recorded five points from 10 games and achieved a tournament performance rating of 1,869.
Joseph secured victories against players representing Comoros, Jersey, Seychelles, the Solomon Islands, the Marshall Islands, and Fiji. He also helped the Open team record its first match victory of the Olympiad, defeating Comoros by a score of 2½–1½ in Round 4.
His performance earned him the Territory’s first Candidate Master title, marking an important step in his development as a competitive chess player.
Phillip makes historic Olympiad debut
For 14-year-old Kiara Phillip, the Candidate Master title came during her first appearance at a Chess Olympiad.
Competing with the Women’s team, Phillip scored four points from six games, including victories over players from Bermuda and Vanuatu. Her first win in Samarkand was historic, as she defeated Bermuda’s Francesca Cressall-Haycock in Round 3 to record the VI’s first individual victory of the 2026 Olympiad.
The Women’s team also defeated Bermuda 3–1 in that round. Chane-Ann Chin and Makalia Fergus joined Phillip in securing victories for the VI.
Phillip’s achievement makes her one of the Territory’s youngest players to reach the Candidate Master level and signals the growing impact of youth participation in the VI chess programme.
The Federation’s notification concerning Jhon Samuel adds another important chapter to the Territory’s recent chess history.
Samuel's recognition demonstrates that the progress seen in Samarkand is connected to the foundation established when the BVI resumed Olympiad participation four years ago.
VI Chess Delegation
The 2026 Open team consisted of Maurice Lettsome, Jhon Samuel, Shamoy Joseph, Anferny Raheem Hodge and Dimitri Fungfook, with Art K. Christopher serving as captain.
The Women’s team featured Tiandra Scatliffe, Makalia Fergus, Alexis Ganigan, Chane-Ann Chin, and Kiara Phillip, with Angela Franco as captain. Jenefer McSheene served as team manager, while Sachkia Barnes represented the VI as the Territory’s delegate to the FIDE Congress.
The Federation began preparations for the Olympiad in June. Younger players also gained valuable international experience through preparatory tournaments in Peru and Aruba.
Building a stronger chess culture
With the 2026 campaign now complete, the Candidate Master titles earned by Joseph and Phillip, together with Samuel’s newly confirmed eligibility, provide tangible milestones for chess in the Virgin Islands.
The achievements reflect the benefits of sustained participation in international competition and create a stronger platform for players seeking to progress toward higher titles.
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