History
In the 1960's, a few men with an interest in chess founded the Bahamas Chess Association as a vehicle to promote the game in The Bahamas. These Pioneers were the late Dr. Oswald Symonette, Kenneth Adderley, Chris Burrows and Lincoln Davis. Meetings, I am told, were sometimes held in member's houses when public buildings like schools were not available to players.
Following the Fischer-Spassky match in Iceland in 1972, Grandmaster Luthar Schmid, the arbiter in that match, visited the Bahamas. He played a simultaneous exhibition at one of the Cable Beach Hotels. He must have been impressed with our play because he supported the Bahamas application for membership to the world chess body Federation Internationale des Echecs (FIDE), and the Bahamas become a member in 1974. We have remained a member ever since, except for a period in the 1980's when we were suspended until our arrears in membership dues was paid off. The Bahamas has sent teams to the Olympiad on four occasions (1974 in Nice France; 1986 in Dubai, UAE; 1988 in Thessaloniki, Greece; and 2000 in Novi Sad, Yugoslavia).
The Federation has always sought to promote the development of its youth. The junior programme got off to a good start in 1974 with the first Bahamas Junior Chess Championship. The High School Team Championship followed a year later and has continued for the next 25 years and remains one of the most prestigious events on the junior calendar.
It comes then as little surprise that the youth representation of the country in regional and international events was of a high standard. In 1983, Antoinette Seymour won the championship for women in the English-speaking Caribbean. Juliet Storr won the same title two years later, and a team of four players -- Antoinette Seymour, Juliet Storr, Percy Rolle and Andrew Moss -- did the Bahamas proud in Chicago in the World Youth Championship. The Scholastic Championship is the Federation's latest effort at promoting to the youth in the school system from primary to tertiary level.
At present, there are hundreds of players in the country -- players who have come out of the school system but who have become inactive once high school was over. At present, active membership is less than fifty, but the prospects for our future remain high, if the pupils who are now starting at younger ages continue to develop. A suitable home base would be a definite plus for our image.
Warren H. Seymour - 2004
(edited by Andre White)
Following the Fischer-Spassky match in Iceland in 1972, Grandmaster Luthar Schmid, the arbiter in that match, visited the Bahamas. He played a simultaneous exhibition at one of the Cable Beach Hotels. He must have been impressed with our play because he supported the Bahamas application for membership to the world chess body Federation Internationale des Echecs (FIDE), and the Bahamas become a member in 1974. We have remained a member ever since, except for a period in the 1980's when we were suspended until our arrears in membership dues was paid off. The Bahamas has sent teams to the Olympiad on four occasions (1974 in Nice France; 1986 in Dubai, UAE; 1988 in Thessaloniki, Greece; and 2000 in Novi Sad, Yugoslavia).
The Federation has always sought to promote the development of its youth. The junior programme got off to a good start in 1974 with the first Bahamas Junior Chess Championship. The High School Team Championship followed a year later and has continued for the next 25 years and remains one of the most prestigious events on the junior calendar.
It comes then as little surprise that the youth representation of the country in regional and international events was of a high standard. In 1983, Antoinette Seymour won the championship for women in the English-speaking Caribbean. Juliet Storr won the same title two years later, and a team of four players -- Antoinette Seymour, Juliet Storr, Percy Rolle and Andrew Moss -- did the Bahamas proud in Chicago in the World Youth Championship. The Scholastic Championship is the Federation's latest effort at promoting to the youth in the school system from primary to tertiary level.
At present, there are hundreds of players in the country -- players who have come out of the school system but who have become inactive once high school was over. At present, active membership is less than fifty, but the prospects for our future remain high, if the pupils who are now starting at younger ages continue to develop. A suitable home base would be a definite plus for our image.
Warren H. Seymour - 2004
(edited by Andre White)
