SVGCF Expands Chess in Schools with Island-Wide Donation

Students at Sugar Mill Academy receiving chess sets

By Admin. Updated 11:59 a.m., Monday, March 24, 2025, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Chess Federation (SVGCF) has launched a programme to introduce chess to schools in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

President of the Chess Federation Israel R. Bruce has secured a donation of 400 chess sets to support this development programme. This will lead to deliberate efforts to establish chess clubs in many primary and secondary schools island-wide.

A number of schools have already received an allotment of sets to kick-start clubs with a minimum of 20 members. Thus far, the St. Vincent Grammar School, the Girls’ High School, the Thomas Saunders Secondary, the St. Mary’s RC Primary, the Calliaqua Primary, and the Sugar Mill Academy have received sets.

In the coming weeks, additional schools will receive a minimum of 10 sets. These schools include the St. Martin’s Secondary, the Bethel High School, the Adelphi Secondary, the North Union Secondary, the New Grounds Primary, the Georgetown Secondary, the Stubbs Primary, and the Diamonds Government.

The SVGCF is ensuring that schools have the necessary resources to launch their chess clubs, with the ultimate goal of hosting the first-ever National Schools Chess Championship. This event will likely be held at both the primary and secondary levels, depending on the number of clubs and players involved in the programme.

Public Relations Officer of the SVGCF Orisia Robinson has been leading the distribution programme. Vedant Shetty of the Calliaqua Government and Alaynna Gilbert of the Sugar Mill Academy have participated in the handing-over ceremonies at their schools to spark fresh interest and enthusiasm in the programme.

Bruce has been using these presentations to highlight the valuable role of chess in education. He emphasises how chess is integrated into various subjects within the school’s curriculum, including Mathematics, English, Physical Education and History.

The formation of these school clubs will also enable children to develop skills in time management, organisational management, and leadership, President Bruce said.

The goal of the SVGCF is to have a minimum of 250 children playing chess in St. Vincent and the Grenadines by September 2025.

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