By Admin. Updated 11:11 a.m., Thursday, July 30, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Chess Federation has announced two national teams that will represent the country at the 2026 FIDE Chess Olympiad, with a blend of experienced competitors and emerging young talent set to compete on one of the sport’s biggest international stages.
The Olympiad will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from 15 to 28 September and is expected to bring together teams from more than 180 countries for the biennial tournament organised by the International Chess Federation (FIDE).
The federation said this year’s delegation reflects its continued commitment to developing the sport by pairing established players with the next generation of Vincentian talent. Three youth players have been selected across the two teams, while the women’s squad will be guided by a Woman Grandmaster.
The Open Team will be captained by Brian Cottle and includes Vedant Shetty, Oris Robinson, Glendon Swift and Jahnyiah Gumbs. The team will be coached by Candidate Master (CM) Mr Nagare.
The Female Team comprises Ronnia Durham-Balcombe, Molissa Ashton, Stacy Baptiste, Arianna Balcombe and Kazene Pierre. The squad will be coached and captained by Woman Grandmaster (WGM) Kateřina Němcová.
According to the federation, the mix of ages and experience is expected to strengthen both teams by combining tactical maturity and resilience with the creativity and ambition of younger players.
“The diverse age range across both teams reflects the Federation’s commitment to blending experience with youthful energy, ensuring that knowledge is passed on while new talent gains invaluable international exposure,” the federation said in a statement.
The federation also highlighted the significance of fielding a women’s team, saying it underscores its commitment to promoting inclusivity and equal opportunities within the sport.
It added that the selected players represent not only the country’s growing chess programme but also its determination to compete with distinction on the international stage.
The FIDE Chess Olympiad is regarded as the premier international team competition in chess and is often described as the “World Cup of Chess”, bringing together national teams from around the world every two years.
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