By S.Browne. Updated 12:50 p.m., Thursday, March 19, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Chess Federation (SVGCF) has announced that Team SVG edged Team Grenada 11–10 to clinch the championship title at the 3rd Chatoyer Bilateral Youth Chess Tournament in a nail-biting finish.
The tournament, held at Sapphire Apartments in Arnos Vale from 13 March to 15 March 2026, was described by the SVGCF as having an “electric” atmosphere that showcased both teams’ resilience, discipline, and skill.
The competition was tightly contested from the start. Round 1 ended in a 2.5–2.5 draw, while Grenada narrowly defeated SVG 3–2 in Round 2. Round 3 saw another 2.5–2.5 draw, but SVG bounced back in Round 4 with a 3–2 victory. The final round mirrored the previous one, with SVG again winning 3–2 to secure the championship 11–10 overall.
Team SVG was led by captain Vedant Shetty, alongside players Le’mar Abbott, Nathanael Lawrence, Stacy Baptiste-King, and Arianna Balcombe. The team was managed by Oris Robinson and coached by Terrance Latchman. Team Grenada featured players Jaedyn Pierre, Aiden Victor, Rommel Ventour, Tauriel Frank, and Aliana Mills, with Nakita Bolah serving as manager and Gennard Roberts as coach.
The SVGCF highlighted Vedant Shetty and Arianna Balcombe as the heroes of SVG’s victory, noting that both players remained unbeaten throughout the tournament and each scored a perfect five points. “Their consistency and calm under pressure earned them the titles of Best Male Player and Best Female Player, respectively,” the SVGCF said.
This year’s result breaks the tie between the two nations: Grenada won the inaugural tournament in 2024, SVG recaptured the trophy in 2025, and now SVG has successfully defended their title in 2026. According to the SVGCF, the Chatoyer Bilateral Tournament continues to strengthen bonds of friendship and cultural exchange between the islands.
The SVGCF extended heartfelt congratulations to Team SVG for their hard-fought victory and to Team Grenada for their courage, skill, and sportsmanship. The event was sponsored by Acado and Bally & Bally Investment Ltd.
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