U S VIRGIN ISLANDS CHESS FEDERATION REPORT

We like to thank the friends from the US Virgin Islands who traveled to Aguadilla to Participate in the VII edition of the José De Diego Tournament.  It was a pleasure to see Ms. Margaret A. Murphy again an meet Mr. Reece Creswell as well all the students that visited our Island.

At the invitation of the Puerto Rican Chess Federation, the U S Virgin Islands Chess Federation Junior Chess Development Squadron travelled to Aguadilla, Puerto Rico to compete in the VII Jose de Diego International Chess Tournament from April 16-19, 2020. A total of ten Virgin Islands students – two from St. Thomas and eight from St. Croix – made the trip. The VI Squadron was comprised of students from the fourth to the twelfth grade. This group’s trip was sponsored by the Chess in Schools Committee of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and the VI Department of Housing, Parks and Recreation.

The tournament was a five round Swiss system using the Bucholtz tie break. After a long weekend of tough competition, four Virgin Islanders finished above tenth place in the under 1000 class: Hazel Acosta (St. Croix) in fourth, Regine Acosta (St. Croix) in fifth, Benjamin Shapiro (St. Thomas) in seventh and Lee Maynard (St. Croix) in ninth. Kayla Clendenin (St. Thomas), Lorie Jeffers (St. Thomas), Savannah Gadd (St. Croix), also played in the under 1000 class. Alex Hensley (St. Croix), Jamari Venzen (St. Croix), and Ira Phillips (St. Croix) competed in the under 1400 class. Hazel Acosta and Regine Acosta both won medals and prizes.

The VI Chess Federation has been teaching and promoting chess lessons and tournaments in the Territory for almost twenty years. Some who started out many years ago as novice chess club players have now advanced to represent the USVI at the World Chess Olympiads.

Margaret Murphy, President of the VI Chess Federation and member of the International Chess in Schools Committee traveled as coach with the team. Since 1992, she has traveled with VI Chess Federation students to Puerto Rico, Russia, Armenia, Slovenia, Turkey, Italy, Greece, Spain, Germany and Trinidad & Tobago for tournaments. In the fall of 2010, the team will travel to Peru. The VI chess students have been fortunate to visit many cultures around the world and gain experience in international chess competitions.

Of the Aguadilla tournament, Reece Creswell, chess coach at both Ricardo Richards School and Country Day School said, “Our students showed a good knowledge of the game and the rules of chess. They were very competitive and did extremely well.” Reece is also a member of the VI World Chess Olympiad Team and competed, along with teammate Anthony Mongiello, in the higher class of the tournament. They are training for the World Chess Olympiad to be held in Siberia later this year. Renee Blakey served as chaperone for the team.

Murphy said that chess is an important program in the schools. “It develops critical thinking skills, builds self esteem, teaches discipline, fosters positive social skills, motivates academic achievement, and empowers the children to succeed.” Murphy and Creswell teach chess lessons on Saturdays at the Manor School in St. Croix from 10:30am to 1:30pm. These classes are offered free of charge and are open to all, regardless of skill level.

Next month, the VI Chess Federation will host an International Internet Chess Tournament, to be held on May 22, 2010 at the Manor School. This will be a unique tournament open only to novice players. They are grateful for the continued support of the community in bringing chess to the youth of Territory.

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Final Ranking cross table after 5 Rounds (Under 1000)

Rk.		Name	Rtg	FED	1.Rd	2.Rd	3.Rd	4.Rd	5.Rd	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3
1		Rios Javier	0	PUR	16s1	14w1	12s1	3w1	2w1	5,0	13,5	8,0	13,50
2		Morales Karolain	0	PUR	5s1	22w1	8s1	6w1	1s0	4,0	18,0	10,5	13,00
3		Olavarria Yalila	0	PUR	7s1	10w1	4w1	1s0	12s1	4,0	17,5	10,0	12,50
4		Acosta Hazel	907	USV	17s1	15w1	3s0	8w1	10s1	4,0	13,5	8,0	9,50
5		Acosta Regine	922	USV	2w0	11s1	17w1	14s1	9w1	4,0	13,0	7,5	9,00
6		Quilez Delvin	0	PUR	9s1	12w½	7s1	2s0	19w1	3,5	14,5	8,5	9,25
7		Shapiro Benjamin	637	USV	3w0	18s1	6w0	20s1	15w1	3,0	13,0	7,5	5,50
8		Rios Noemis	0	PUR	24w1	19s1	2w0	4s0	14w1	3,0	12,0	7,5	4,00
9		Maynard Lee	589	USV	6w0	25s1	20w1	15s1	5s0	3,0	12,0	7,0	4,50
10		Vazquez Christopher	0	PUR	25w1	3s0	21w1	16s1	4w0	3,0	12,0	7,0	4,00
11		Valentin Ivan	0	PUR	13s1	5w0	14s0	18s1	16w1	3,0	11,5	6,0	6,00
12		Colon Christian	0	PUR	23w1	6s½	1w0	13s1	3w0	2,5	15,5	10,0	4,75
13		Garcia Victor	0	PUR	11w0	21s½	24w1	12w0	23s1	2,5	8,0	4,5	1,75
14		Hernandez Christopher	0	PUR	-1	1s0	11w1	5w0	8s0	2,0	16,5	10,0	5,50
15		Quintana Christopher	0	PUR	21w1	4s0	19w1	9w0	7s0	2,0	13,5	8,0	3,50
16		Gadd Savannah	438	USV	1w0	23s1	22w+	10w0	11s0	2,0	13,0	7,5	3,00
17		Nuñez Angelo	0	PUR	4w0	24s1	5s0	21w0	25w+	2,0	11,5	7,0	1,50
18		Fortis John	0	PUR	22s0	7w0	25s1	11w0	21s1	2,0	11,0	7,0	2,50
19		Clendinen Kayla	591	USV	20s1	8w0	15s0	23w1	6s0	2,0	10,5	6,5	2,00
20		Perez Jose	0	PUR	19w0	-1	9s0	7w0	24s1	2,0	10,0	6,5	3,00
21		Jeffers Lorie	532	USV	15s0	13w½	10s0	17s1	18w0	1,5	11,0	6,5	2,75
22		Rosado Wilfredo	0	PUR	18w1	2s0	16s-	-0	-0	1,0	13,5	7,5	2,00
23		Rivera Jonah	0	PUR	12s0	16w0	-1	19s0	13w0	1,0	9,0	6,0	2,50
24		Aquino Stephanie	0	PUR	8s0	17w0	13s0	25w+	20w0	1,0	9,0	5,5	1,00
25		Hernandez Natalia	0	PUR	10s0	9w0	18w0	24s-	17s-	0,0	10,0	6,0	0,00