The Dominica National Chess Team took a significant and confident stride forward at the second edition of the CARICOM Classic 2025, held in Guyana, reporting upgrades in performance across the board.
The tournament was hosted at the Pegasus Hotel & Suites and was executed to a high standard of organization, stated a release from the Dominica Chess Foundation. It also shared that a key factor in Dominica’s improved performance was the collective effort of all team members, which marked a departure from the previous year when only two of the four players managed to score points.
The DCF statement outlined the specifics:
For the first time in competing at the CARICOM Classic, Team Dominica secured victory in a team match alongside a draw in another, earning three total match points. This represents an important breakthrough compared with 2024, when the team finished without wins on the match scoreboard.
Individual performances also improved significantly. The total number of board points increased by more than 60%, rising to six and a half points in 2025. Last year, only two players scored, whereas this year all four contributed points, reflecting a stronger team balance and growing potential.
A major highlight was the strong performance by the women on the team, bringing to the fore the rising prominence of female players in Dominican Chess.
In the final standings, Dominica climbed one rank from last year, finishing 9th out of all the competing teams. Given the high level of competition, especially on the top boards with titled players, the team demonstrated clear progress in both individual gameplay and the team competition overall.
In yet another arena, notably a dedicated youth segment—the CARICOM Classic Junior U16 Tournament— Dominica had the opportunity to shine. Cajani Dejean was the country’s sole participant in the Under-16 category, which was introduced this year.
Despite this being his first appearance on the international scene, Cajani reportedly displayed resilience and skill, securing three victories, including an impressive win in the opening round. His participation was a vital milestone in the development of youth chess in Dominica and highlighted promising prospects for the future, says the Chess Foundation.
Cajani’s strong showing is commended by the Foundation as setting the stage for the expansion of youth chess initiatives within the country, spanning school clubs to international tournaments.
According to the DCF, Dominica’s team showed clear signs of improvement across multiple metrics: final standings, total points, wins, draws, and overall team performance. These advancements serve as tangible proof of the progress made over the past year, reflecting increased skill, confidence, and cohesion within the team.
Team Line-up and Individual Performances:
● Ayani Casimir, 16-year-old local female champion, was the team’s leading scorer. She showed consistent play and scored 2.5 points, carrying the team’s overall results.
● Liudmila Domennova made a confident tournament debut, winning two of her games.
● CM Nigel Francis achieved an important victory in Round 9.
● Edger Berridge played solidly on Board 2, contributing a point to the team’s overall score.
The Dominica Chess Federation says it remains dedicated to building on this momentum by attracting new talent, expanding youth programs, and increasing participation in international competitions. These efforts aim to further elevate Dominica’s standing within the Caribbean chess community.
The Foundation also announced that there will be more updates—more challenges and victories, on the horizon.
Connect with the Dominica Chess Federation:
– Facebook: facebook.com/chess767
– Instagram: instagram.com/dominicachess
– X (Twitter): x.com/dominicachess
– Threads: threads.com/@dominicachess
Lastly, the Dominica Chess Federation sincerely thanked the organizations and partners whose support made participation at CARICOM Classic 2025 possible:
– Dominica National Lottery
– Dominica Olympic Committee
– Big Edge Financial Express
– Springfield Trading Ltd
– Belfast Estate Ltd
– Archipelago Trading Ltd
– Guyana Chess Federation Inc.
– Dominica Sports Division
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