Dominican delegation to contend at CARICOM Classic Chess Tournament

The Dominica Chess Federation is gearing up to send a team of chess players to the 2nd CARICOM Classic Chess Tournament, scheduled to take place in Guyana from June 30 to July 7, 2025.

The team’s press release explained that the delegation, which comprises four players in the main category, includes Nigel Francis, who holds a FIDE rating of 1803, and the title of Candidate Master, Edger Berridge, who has not yet received a FIDE rating, Liudmila Domennova, with a FIDE rating of 1452, and Ayani Casimir, who has a FIDE rating of 1602.

In the junior section, Dominica will be represented by Cajani Dejean, an exceptional chess player from St Mary’s Academy, who will compete against 47 other young participants from four countries. The team will be accompanied by Carlton Morvan, who will serve as both Coach and Delegate, providing guidance and support throughout the event.

The statement further said that Nigel, Edger, and Liudmila secured their spots on the team by finishing as the top two male and female players at the Open Chess Tournament in March 2025. Ayani Casimir, the current national women’s champion, was selected based on her title, consistent performance, and strong commitment to the sport.  Meanwhile, Cajani Dejean was chosen for the junior section due to his outstanding performance at the 2024 Under 18 tournament, making him an ideal representative for Dominica on the regional stage.

The Dominica Chess Federation has expressed gratitude to its generous sponsors, including the Dominica National Lottery, Dominica Olympic Committee, Big Edge Financial Express, Springfield Trading Ltd, Belfast Estate Ltd, Archipelago Trading Ltd, and the Guyana Chess Federation, for making it possible for the team to participate in this year’s Caricom Classic.

A spokesman for the group described the upcoming opportunity  as “an important milestone for chess development in Dominica.”