Friday, October 16, 2020

TRAVIS MUNNINGS

Jonathan Augustin-Fairell

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#Both Bahamian pro basketball players in Portugal’s Liga Portuguesa de Basquetebol (LPB) got off to winning starts in their 2020 regular season debuts.

#Travis Munnings and Jonathan Augustin-Fairell were both among the leading scorers for their respective clubs in the top tier league in the country.

#Munnings finished with 11 points, six rebounds and three assists to help UD Oliveirense to a 73-53 win over Ovarense on the road.

#Munnings and the frontcourt helped outrebound their opponents 47-24, including a 21-7 advantage on the offensive boards.

#Oliveirense is the two time defending champion and Munnings joined their quest for a third consecutive title after last season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

#They return to the court October 17 when they host Galitos-Barreiro.

#Augustin-Fairell scored a team high 15 points and grabbed six rebounds to lead FC Porto to a 62-55 win over Academica. He shot 7-10 from the field and also added two steals.

#They also return to the court October 17 when they face Vitoria SC.

#Munnings concluded last season with La Rochelle Stade Rochelais of France’s NM1 League. He averaged 17.5 points, eight rebounds and 3.8 assists per game through six games.

#“My expectations are very simple, make everyone remember me as one of the hardest players. I know and understand that Oliveirense Basquetebol has a great coaching staff as well hungry players that are skilled on many levels,” Munnigs said, “I also know that the support from the community is a huge factor in the team’s success and you have to appreciate such gems like that.”

#Augustin-Fairell is in his fifth season of professional basketball and has now played in five countries – Austria, France, Belgium and most recently, Argentina. He began last season with Basic-Fit Brussels in Belgium’s Euromillions League, where in 14 games he averaged 20.7 minutes, 10.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. He then concluded the season with Obras in Argentina’s La Liga where he played just five games before the season was abruptly ended due to COVID-19. He averaged 10.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.

RONN Rodgers putting the finishing touches to his new gym.

Friday, October 16, 2020

RONN RODGERS

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#WITH his relocation to Tampa, Florida, thwarted because of the coronavirus pandemic, Strikers Boxing Club’s coach Ronn Rodgers has decided to set up a new local boxing gym.

#Aptly named the Strikers Covid Edition, the new gym is outdoors in Marshall Road South. He’s expected to have it completed by next week with all the painting and equipment placed in it.

#But Rodgers said he’s waiting on the approval from Prime Minister Hubert Minnis on the reopening of beaches, parks and recreational areas before he officially opens its doors.

#Rodgers, who was last located at the former Champion Boxing Club, owned by Ray Minus Jr, on Wulff Road, said after watching the number of cases soar in Florida, he opted not to take up the offer to coach the club in Tampa.

#“When I was over there recently negotiating for a fight, one of the fighters came down with Covid-19,” Rodgers pointed out. “They ended up canceling the entire event, so I told myself that this doesn’t make any sense, so we decided to stay.

#“The job offer is still on the table. They called me last week. They still want me to come over. In fact. They want me to come over next month, but I don’t think I will make that move. I will entertain them, but I think I’m going to stay here for now.”

#With Minus Jr’s gym closed and being relocated to his home further down on Wulff Road east, and the National Boxing Gym at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex as the only venue open, Rodgers said there’s a need for him to get his gym underway, even though it’s outside of the average grass root boxer.

#“There’s a need for boxing gyms to open up in the country right now,” Rodgers stated. “The Bahamas Boxing Commission called me the other day concerned about it, so I decided to stay.”

#Compared to his previous locations, including the Carmichael Road Shopping Center where Rodgers attracted a number of boxers as well as fitness enthusiasts, he noted that this new location will provide all of the amenities needed to enhance a proper training programme for the boxers.

#“It’s going to be outdoors with a cover, but we have ample running space in the yard,” he pointed out. “In the city, there was no room to run, but here, we have all the space that they need to run and train.

#“I know it’s going to affect some of the boxers that I worked with in the past, but I realize that there’s always an opportunity for boxers because since I’ve started building this one, I’ve had a number of kids coming around asking if they can join.”

#With the new gym located in close proximity to the Anatol Rodgers Secondary High School, Rodgers said he intended to tap into the idle young men to get them involved in the Strikers Covid Edition.

#“I was advertising it to some of my members and I told them since this is going to be here for a while, I wanted to name it after the coronavirus pandemic. I thought it was a catchy name. Hopefully it will catch on and grow with the boxers who come out and participate.”

Tuesday, September 4, 2018

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#IT was a breakout game for Mike Strachan and a new programme for Rondre Knowles-Tener as the former high school teammates made their season debuts in NCAA football last weekend.

#Strachan produced the best game of his career in his University of Charleston Cougars’ 35-31 win over West Virginia State University at UC Stadium in Charleston, West Virginia.

#The 6’5”, 205-pound redshirt sophomore wide receiver finished with four receptions for 159 yards and one touchdown.

#On their first possession Charleston quarterback Mason Olszewiski connected with Strachan on a 59-yard touchdown pass on the first play from scrimmage.

#Established as a deep threat early in the season for the Cougars, Strachan would also catch a 42-yard pass later in the quarter and a 51-yard catch in the second quarter.

#He was a redshirt in his true freshman season and saw the first playing time of his collegiate career last year. He recorded stats in just one game when he caught the first reception of his career for them in a 19-16 loss to the Fairmont State Fighting Falcons.

#The Cougars were slotted to finish fourth in the Mountain East Conference preseason poll with 63 points. They finished the 2017 season 4-6.

#Strachan entered college as a three-sport athlete following a standout career at Liberty Christian Academy. Strachan was a member of the 2013 VISAA 1 State Championship team and received All-Conference and Honourable Mention All-Region as a senior. He was also ranked fourth nationally in the 500m, setting a new LCA record at the Hokie Invitational.

#After struggling to earn playing time over the last two seasons with the James Madison Dukes, Rondre Knowles-Tener has decided to leave the programme and transfer to the Virginia-Wise Cavaliers.

#With the move to Virginia-Wise, he also joined Strachan in the Mountain East conference.

#He finished with one solo tackle in a 17-7 opening week loss to Glenville State.

#Coming out of high school, Knowles-Tener originally committed to the East Carolina Pirates but eventually chose to join the programme at James Madison. He sat out his true freshman season last year as a redshirt but was expected to be an important factor in the Dukes’ plans for its defensive front line moving forward.

#The 6’1”, 295-pound defensive lineman is a former standout performer at Tabernacle Baptist Academy and also anchored the defensive line at Liberty Christian Academy. Knowles-Tener drew interest from a number of elite Division I programmes, including Wake Forest and East Carolina.

f Tuesday, November 13, 2018

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#THE NCAA Division II football regular season concluded with a breakout season for Mike Strachan and a productive year in a new programme for Rondre Knowles-Tener.

#Strachan finished with five receptions for 55 yards and one touchdown in the Charleston Goulden Cougars 28-6 win over Glenville State.

#It was the sixth consecutive game where Strachan recorded a touchdown catch and the Golden Eagles finished the season at 6-5.

#After a scoreless first quarter, Charleston struck first with a field goal and Strachan’s six-yard connection with Mason Olszewski for a 10-0 lead.

#Glenville would score their only touchdown early in the third quarter but the Cougars ended the game with 18 unanswered points.

#Strachan finished as the only player in the Mountain East Conference to eclipse the 1,000 yard receiving mark. On the season, he totalled 48 receptions for 1,007 yards and eight touchdowns. He led the conference in receiving yards, was third in both average yards per catch at 21 and average yards per game at 91.5. His touchdown total finished fourth.

#Strachan had five games of over 100 yards receiving, including a season high 166 yards against Fairfield and season high eight receptions against Notre Dame College.

#He was a redshirt in his true freshman season and saw the first playing time of his collegiate career last year when he finished with just one reception.

#Strachan continues to be a two-sport star for UC and is the defending conference champion in the 200m, 400m and 4x400m relay.

#Knowles-Tener and U-Va ended the season with a 21-16 win over Shepherd in and brought an end to their six-year run in the MEC as they prepare to shift to the South Atlantic Conference next fall.

#He finished with his best game of the season, two sacks and three tackles. The sophomore defensive lineman finished his first full season of college football on the field with 21 tackles (including three for a loss), three sacks, two fumble recoveries, two quarterback hurries and one field goal block.

#After struggling to earn playing time over the last two seasons with the James Madison Dukes, Rondre Knowles-Tener has decided to leave the programme and transfer to the Virginia-Wise Cavaliers.

#With the move to Virginia-Wise, he also joined Strachan in the Mountain East.

#Both players played at the high school level for Liberty Christian Academy in Lynchburg, Virgina.

#Coming out of high school, Knowles-Tener originally committed to the East Carolina Pirates but eventually chose to join the programme at James Madison.

#He sat out his true freshman season last year as a redshirt but was expected to be an important factor in the Dukes’ plans for its defensive front line moving forward. The 6’1″, 295-pound defensive lineman is a former standout performer at Tabernacle Baptist Academy and also anchored the defensive line at Liberty Christian Academy. Knowles-Tener drew interest from a number of elite Division I programmes, including Wake Forest and East Carolina. He originally committed to East Carolina but said James Madison is a better fit.

#In his stint at LCA, he earned numerous accolades, including VISAA Division I Second Team All-State as a junior, VHSL Honourable Mention All-Region 4A West and First Team All-Conference 23 as a senior and was a member of LCA’s VISAA Division I state championship team as a sophomore.

#Strachan a three-sport star who at LCA, was a member of the 2013 VISAA 1 State Championship team and received All Conference and Honourable Mention All-Region as a senior. Strachan was also ranked fourth nationally in the 500m, and he set a new LCA record in the event at the Hokie Invitational.

Thursday, June 4, 2020

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#HEADING into his senior season with the University of Charleston Golden Eagles football programme, Mike Strachan looks to continue to rewrite the record books and boost his stock for the 2021 NFL Draft.

#Strachan was featured by NFL Draft Blitz and the standout wide receiver detailed his offseason struggles as he continues.

#“I have my brother here with me. We know some quarterbacks in the area. We work out together at a local field. We are working on the fundamentals. I am focusing on my hands and route running,” he said. “I am doing conditioning on my own.”

#In his junior season, he was named an NCAA Division II Second Team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association. Following his breakout season, Strachan shared the all-time Charleston touchdown record of 27 with Joey Augustin.

#The Grand Bahama native finished with 78 receptions for 1,319 yards and 19 touchdowns. He set new school records, led the Mountain East Conference in each category and was second in all of DII in both receiving yards and touchdowns.

#His breakout season achieved Division II Top-10 marks for the 2019 season in receiving touchdowns (second), receiving yards (sixth), receptions (ninth), and receiving yards per game (fifth).

#Strachan was also named All-Mountain East Conference First Team when the conference announced its annual awards and all-conference teams.

#At 6’5” 225 pounds, Strachan has reportedly run a best time of 4.38 seconds in the 40-yard dash but continues to work toward his development for the upcoming season and beyond. “At the next level, you have to have two things. Route running and creating separation. If you can run routes very smoothly, you can be successful at the next level. I have been working on it this offseason,” he said. Currently a two-sport star for the Golden Eagles, Strachan also competes in the 400m and 200m.

#The COVID-19 pandemic brought a premature end to the NCAA Indoor season. He had plans of representing the country one day on the track at the Olympics.

#“It is my other main sport besides football. I participated in the 200 and 400 metres,” he said. “When I lived in the Bahamas, I had aspirations to run track professionally. I had a goal to compete in outdoor track this spring before everything shut down. I placed first in indoor track this past year. I wanted to participate in the 2020 Olympics. That was the goal. I wanted to run for my country. I feel like I would have done it, but we didn’t have an outdoor track season.”

#Strachan caught touchdown passes in 10 of 11 games this season, including six multi touchdown games. He currently holds school records in receiving yards, breaking his own previous record of 1,007 set in 2018. His 19 receiving touchdowns broke the 70-year record of 13 held by Charlie Hubbard in 1950. His 78 receptions broke the record of 60 set by Terrance Spencer in 2006.

#“I bring energy. I am confident and I am a positive example for everybody. I am a team player. I am willing to do whatever for the team and the coaches. I am a playmaker. They can come to me in any situation. I have the ability to make plays,” Strachan said. “There is definitely a lot of pressure playing the game. I embrace the pressure. Football is the greatest sport. It is the ultimate team sport.”

#In addition to single-season records, Strachan broke the single-game records of: Receptions (13) – Set against Urbana on September 12 and also holds the second place spot of 12 receptions set a month later against Notre Dame College and receiving yards (207) also set on October 12 against Notre Dame College, breaking the previous record of 186 set in 2010 by Andre Higgins.

#“Different schools were looking at me for football and track… I went to a few camps for football. Eastern Kentucky and East Carolina were looking at me. I went to a Miami camp, and they were impressed by me. JMU stopped by at my high school. Delaware was interested,” Strachan said.

#“Coming from the Bahamas, the school system is different. I didn’t have the SAT or ACT. I took them pretty late in the process. I didn’t know much about it. There is a certain time period when you have to take those test scores between D-I and D-II. Charleston was patient with me. I took a visit and I liked it.”

#He was a redshirt in his true freshman season and saw the first playing time of his collegiate career as a redshirt freshman when he finished with just one reception.

#As a sophomore, he had a breakout season when he finished as the only player in the MEC to eclipse the 1,000-yard receiving mark.

#On the season, he totalled 48 receptions for 1,007 yards and eight touchdowns. He led the conference in receiving yards, was third in both average yards per catch at 21 and average yards per game at 91.5. His touchdown total finished fourth.

#Strachan has begun to generate buzz from the Division II level.

#“My dad, Jerome Strachan, he played football at Bethune-Cookman under head coach Larry Little. He was part of the Dolphins team that went undefeated in the 70s. My dad learned a lot from him. He also played wide receiver in college,” Strachan said. “He taught me how to be tough. The major thing is having the mental toughness.”

Prince Strachan

f Thursday, October 15, 2020

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#Prince Strachan continues his breakout junior season on the gridiron for John Carroll High School Rams.

#Stracahan racked up 10 receptions for 143 yards and two touchdowns for the Fort Pierce, Florida powerhouse in their 37-12 win over South Fork High last weekend in Florida.

#Through five games thus far, the 6’4” Grand Bahama native has emerged as a deep threat en route to the Rams’ 4-1 record on the season.

#He caught three receptions for 76 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-0 win for his Rams over the Port St Lucie Jaguars in the season opener.

#The Golden Rams also won 23-0 over the Okeechobee Brahmans and 47-14 over Avon Park before a 57-28 loss to Treasure Coast.

#They look to improve to 5-1 against Fort Pierce Central on October 16.

#Strachan relocated from Grand Bahama to John Carroll following Hurricane Dorian last year. He played sparingly as a sophomore and the Rams are were high on his prospective impact headed into this season.

#Prince is the younger brother of University of Charleston Golden Eagles All-American wide receiver, Mike Strachan.

#Thus far the younger Strachan has already received an offer from the Golden Eagles.

#Mike Strachan, was recently listed among Yahoo! Sports’ top “small school” prospects for the 2021 NFL draft and a preseason All-American.

#He was named an NCAA Division II Second Team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association and to the 2019 Don Hansen NCAA Division II All-America team.

#Both young receivers look to continue the lineage established by their father at the position.

#“My dad, Jerome Strachan, He played football at Bethune-Cookman under head coach Larry Little. He was part of the Dolphins team that went undefeated in the 70’s. My dad learned a lot from him. He also played wide receiver in college,” Mike told NFL Draft Blitz in a recent interview.

#“He taught me how to be tough. The major thing is having the mental toughness.”

Friday, May 11, 2018

#THE Bahamas Chess Federation is pleased to announce the members selected to represent the Bahamas at the 43rd World Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia, September 23 to October 7.

#The players were chosen from a combination of qualifying tournament results, event participation and community involvement.

#FIDE master Carver Moncur, candidate master Kendrick Knowles, national master Byron Small, woman candidate master Polina Karelina and Chapell Whyms will share the enormous honour of wearing the country’s black, blue and gold.

#Equally significant is the fact that this is the first time a female player has been selected to represent the Bahamas at a Chess Olympiad.

#The Olympiad members have already received professional training online and have attended the May 4-6 training session with grandmaster Renier Gonzales.

#The BCF will continue to provide training opportunities to the national team members to prepare them for what is expected to be a tough battle against 170 competing countries.

#Before participating in the Olympiad, members of the national team will be required to support the federation’s community efforts and to assist in the development of the country’s junior players.

Thursday, September 11, 2014

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Sports Reporter

#rdorsettt@tribunemedia.net

#MIND sports, like chess, continue to increase their profile in the Bahamas and just on the heels of an historic performance in international competition, a trio of local chess veterans have received a prestigious award by the international governing body of the sport.

#Elton Joseph, Kendrick Knowles and Cecil Moncur were named candidate masters by the World Chess Federation based on their performance at the recent 2014 Chess Olympiad hosted in Tromso, Norway.

#It brings the total number of candidate masters in the Bahamas to four as they joined junior phenom Nathan Smith who received the honour based on his performance at the 2013 CAC Youth Festival.

#Joseph, Knowles and Moncur scored at least 50 per cent in a minimum of seven games at the event, the first time the Bahamas competed in the Chess Olympiad in over two decades.

#They led the Bahamas to its best performance ever, a finish at no.118 overall in a group 174 countries. They began the tournament ranked no.158.

#The BCF credits much of its success to contracted Serbian grandmaster Predrag Trajkovic who devoted two months of his time to training the players online prior to the tournament and to serve as team captain during the two-week event, developing strategies against opponents and providing post-analysis of the players’ games.

#Andre White, president of the Bahamas Chess Federation, applauded the performance.

#“The players really bought into the training,” he said. “It took a few rounds for them to settle in and believe in themselves, but once they realised that the stage was not too big for them, the results began to come,”White said.

#“We played against proven chess masters and were able to hold our own. The guys are incredibly motivated now to continue their training and to represent the country at upcoming international tournaments. They saw the results of preparation, and the efforts that we put into participating in this Olympiad were well worth it.”

#The 42nd Chess Olympiad is scheduled to be held in 2016 in Baku, Azerbaijan, and the Bahamas Chess Federation is reportedly making preparations for a team to attend.

#Scheduled training will continue, local playing opportunities will be expanded, and an international tournament hosted by the Bahamas is being discussed for 2015.

#Back in January, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr Daniel Johnson announced in the House of Assembly that the often overlooked genre of mind sports would be implemented in school sporting curriculums in 2014.

#“We can excel in these mind sports. It brings me to an idea of what we are trying to do this year of expanding sports,” he said.

#“I am very proud to say today that along with the Ministry of Education, that chess and other mind sports will be introduced to schools all across the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, the full 164 schools, this year,” he said.

#“These are the young people that we are breeding in this country. There are thousands and thousands of them and I am going to overwhelm the public with these people so that ‘those’ people can get off the front page.”

By Renaldo Dorsett

Thursday, October 1, 2020

#THE Bahamas made history by becoming the newest member of the International School Sports Federation.

#The federation is recognised by the International Olympic Committee and aims to promote the values and interests of Education through Sport.

#Chess will be the first sport contested for The Bahamas.

#Team Bahamas will compete at ISF World Schools Championship Online Chess 2020. The team includes Daijah Johnson (Aquinas College), Trinity Pinder (Doris Johnson), Olga Roussos (Home School), Nathan Smith (Home School), Aiden Mart (Home School), Noah Albury (St. Augustine’s College), Trevor Bridgewater (Queen’s College), Curtis Pride Jr (Home School), Makayla Horton (St. Augustine’s College), Avain Pride (Home School), Seth Roberts (Queen’s College), Daniel Ramtulla (Queen’s College), Faith Higgs (SC McPherson), Nathaniel Higgs Jr (RM Bailey) and Tadan Ferguson (Home School).

#Bahamas Chess Federation Elton Joseph said it is a great opportunity for the development of the local sport.

#“Chess is a sport that age is basically a number. If the kids get strong enough, they can compete at the highest level which is the World Chess Olympiad,” he said.

#“This year we had a lot of funding. We had some chess sets and books. We were supposed to do a big chess in the schools programme but COVID-19 hit. There are two clubs in Freeport, a club in Eleuthera and Andros that we sent chess sets to and then school closed down.”

#Young chess players from all over the world are invited to participate in the ISF’s second online event. The ISF World Schools Championship Online Chess 2020 will begin October 3 with qualification rounds and concludes on October 25 with finals. Throughout October, the ISF World Schools Championship Online Chess 2020 will include four qualification and four final tournaments.

#The virtual competition software used will be Premium Chess.

#Team Bahamas was on hand to express their excitement at the opportunity.

#Johnson said: “I feel as if each international tournament is always a good experience as I get to compete against people from different parts around the world. I also get to interact with people from different cultures and make long friendships with fellow chess players like myself,” Johnson said.

#Pinder said: “I heard from my mother that my grandfather also used to play so I thought why not give it a try. When I tried, I realised that it can take me a lot of places which it has over the years because I grew up in Bain and Grant’s Town and I never felt I would have gotten the chance to travel the world. Through chess I have already been to Jamaica, Curacao, the Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia. I went to a lot of places that I thought I would have never been as a child from Bain Town.”

#Roussos said: “I think it is going to be a great learning experience. Whenever I play, I always learn about new moves and tactics that I can use in future games. I am very excited to compete against other seasoned players.”

#Rupert Gardiner serves as the President of ISF Bahamas.

#“History has been made in the Bahamas once again. There is quite a list of events that will be taking place in 2021 and I would like to see us well represented in them. Everything from basketball to volleyball to track and field and now especially with chess,” he said.

#“History is being made once again in The Bahamas and I am a part of it. I would like to thank the press for turning out to support this event to make it a success so that other kids can be involved in the ISF. There are a lot of opportunities for you.”

#“I want to encourage all of the schools and athletes to get involved and find an opportunity to become exposed to persons around the world…

#“This is a fantastic opportunity and I hope you seize this chance to get involved in sports. Chess appears to be the first one out the gate.

#“It is a mind sport and some people don’t know chess is a sport – they consider it a board game but it requires a lot of mental stamina and patience. These are some of the attributes that sports will teach you,” Munnings stated.

#According to the ISF, its events, “the World Schools Championships and the Gymnasiade, aim to promote among young people: mutual understanding, volunteering empowerment, peace, non-discrimination, healthy lifestyle, social inclusion, and gender equality.

#“Thus it contributes to support the educative paths of the young people to empower them as citizens of the world.

#“ISF pursues its goals independently from political, religious or racial considerations.”

Tuesday, October 13, 2020

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#The Bahamas made its first appearance as the newest member of the International School Sports Federation at the World Schools Championships’ Online Chess Tournament and Daijah Johnson continues to make history.

#Johnson, Woman Candidate Chess Master, advanced to the tournament finals after emerging as one of the top 40 participants in a field that comprised some of the top players across the globe in the ISF Qualifiers.

#WCM Johnson, the first female in the Bahamas to ever receive an International Chess Federation (FIDE) title, got her opening in round four and proceeded to win five matches.

#Johnson finished at No 38 to qualify for the U18 finals, scheduled for October 24. The remainder of the U18 team included Olga Roussos and Trinity. Roussos and Pinder were very close to qualifying in the top 40 at No.41 and No.46 in the rankings respectively.

#Pinder was the first participant for team Bahamas and won in the first round against a higher rated player. She finished with four points. Roussos, who also participated in the Online Chess Olympiad in August, finished with 4.5 points.

#“It was a great effort by our junior players as they competed against stronger chess counties in Europe and Asia,” The Bahamas Chess Federation said in a statement, “Great result from all our players so far; we look forward to the Finals and extraordinary things from all three players in the future.”

#“I feel as if each international tournament is always a good experience as I get to compete against people from different parts around the world. I also get to interact with people from different cultures and make long friendships with fellow chess players like myself,” Johnson said prior to the tournament.

#Bahamas Chess Federation Elton Joseph said it is a great opportunity for the development of the local sport.

#“Chess is a sport that age is basically a number. If the kids get strong enough, they can compete at the highest level which is the World Chess Olympiad,” he said, “This year we had a lot of funding. We had some chess sets and books. We were supposed to do a big program to put chess in the schools but COVID-19 hit. There are two clubs in Freeport, a club in Eleuthera and Andros that we sent chess sets to, and then school closed down.”

#The ISF World Schools Championship Online Chess 2020 will begin October 3 with qualification rounds and concludes on October 25 with finals. Throughout October, the ISF World Schools Championship Online Chess 2020 will include four qualification and four final tournaments.

#The virtual competition software used will be Premium Chess.

#In addition to Johnson (Aquinas College), Pinder (Doris Johnson) and Roussos (Home School), the full roster for team Bahamas includes: U18 Open – Nathan Smith (Home School), Aiden Mart (Home School), Noah Albury (St. Augustine’s College), Trevor Bridgewater (Queen’s College), Curtis Pride Jr (Home School); U15 Girls – Makayla Horton (St. Augustine’s College), Faith Higgs (SC McPherson); U15 Open – Avain Pride (Home School), Seth Roberts (Queen’s College), Daniel Ramtulla (Queen’s College), Tadan Ferguson (Home School); U18 Open – Nathaniel Higgs Jr (RM Bailey).