Grenada’s Chess team receives prestigious reception following their achievement in Budapest

The Grenada’s Chess Team received a warm welcome by the Ministry of Youth and Sports at the VIP Lounge of the Maurice Bishop International Airport to recognize and celebrate their achievements in Chess Olympiad at Budapest, Hungary.

The team arrived on Tuesday evening on a Virgin Atlantic Flight and was greeted by officials of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Grenada Olympic Committee. The team participated in Chess Olympiad for the first time and left a remarkable impression with their exceptional performances on the international platform.

The Grenada Team played some crucial chess rounds against some of the greatest chess players in the world. They also registered a remarkable victory against the players from the US Virgin Islands, Sierre Leone and Seychelles.

Also, when the Grenadian team left for Budapest, they were relatively unknown and unrated. However, they made a return with a historic achievement, earning the title of FIDE Master to their bag. The Grenada’s star player, Renniel Gilbert, not only became the first-ever Grenadian to rise to the level of FIDE Master winning 7 out of ten chess matches.

While shedding light on the welcome of Grenadian chess team, the Manager and President of the Grenada Chess Association spoke about the sport and competition. They also emphasized the need for the Chess to be a part of the school curriculum in Grenada.

The Minister for Youth and Sports, Delma Thomas also extended congratulations to the team members and stated that Chess is more than just a game. He added that this game teaches several valuable lessons to the player about thinking ahead and adapting to several new situations.

Minister Thomas further asserted that each move by all the players representing Grenada in Budapest shed light on their hard work and determination.

The Ministry also extended gratitude to the coaches, families and supporters of the team who stood behind them at every step of the way. They noted that the encouragement by them have been invaluable for the players.

They further asserted that it is entirely the support of the coaches, friends and family members which have played a huge role in motivating the players and helping them foster the environment of excellence.

The 45^th Chess Olympiad in Budapest turned out to be a great exposure for the Grenada players as they competed against the liveliest minds. The competition helped all these players learn several strategies and techniques which will play a huge role in leading them to success.

Also, the Grenada’s Chess Federation was established in May 2019 with the aim of promoting the indoor sport and encouraging the young individuals to train better in it.