By Kean Smith (kean@nimblemindschess.org)

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In today's blog, we interview Noah who recently returned from his first Chess Olympiad.  He shares details about his experience and chess results.
  
Interviewer: Welcome back to The Bahamas from Chennai, India.  This Chess Olympiad was your first.  Which matches did you play in and how would you describe your overall result?
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Noah: Thank you! I played 7 games. These games were in the 1st round against Latvia, the 2nd round against Sri Lanka, the 5th round against Jersey, the 6th round against Seychelles, the 8th round against Burundi, the 10th round against Bahrain and the 11th round against Mali. I think I did pretty well considering the fact that this was my first Olympiad and I won more than 50% of my games.

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Interviewer: How were the general conditions for the players including the organisation of the tournament?
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Noah: The general conditions were very good. At the tournament venue there were metal detectors and lots of security guards to make sure that everything and everyone was secure. They also provided cookies, chocolates and refreshments for the players in the playing area. As for outside of the tournament there was a buffet everyday at the hotel we stayed at. The food at the hotel was amazing and the service was good as well.

Interviewer: What was your objective when you arrived at the Olympiad?

Noah: My objective when I arrived at the Olympiad was to gain experience and win some games. However, I did not expect to win as many as I did, nor did I expect to attain a Candidate Master title.
 
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Interviewer: I understand from the World Chess Federation website that you have been provisionally granted a Candidate Master title.  What was the performance you needed to achieve in order to qualify for this title and how do you feel about this achievement?
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Noah: To achieve a conditional Candidate Master title one needed to win 50% of ones games out of a minimum of 7 games. I feel great about achieving this! As mentioned before, I did not expect to win that many games so the fact that I did gave me much more confidence in my abilities as a chess player.

Interviewer: What was your most memorable game and why?

​Noah: My most memorable game was in round 3 against CM Garry Forbes from the country of Jersey. In this game I was in a losing position and down on time. Thankfully, my opponent blundered mate in two when I started putting more pressure on him. He resigned before I could deliver checkmate. This game was also my first win. CM Forbes has a FIDE rating of 1908. The win gave me the confidence and motivation I needed to go on to win other games.

 
Interviewer: In an interview with you on 7th May, 2022, you explained that you have played in several international chess tournaments including the North American Youth Chess Championship 2019.  How did the format and standard of play differ in the Olympiad when compared to the other tournaments you played in?

Noah: The format for this tournament was game in 90 minutes with 30 seconds increment each move and an additional 30 minutes on move 40. This time format was not that different from the other tournaments as the other international tournaments that I went to were also classical tournaments.
 

 Interviewer: Congratulations on earning your CM title.  As a final question, tell us what is next for you as far as chess is concerned?

Noah: Next, I plan on raising my rating so that FIDE officially grants me my Candidate Master title. To get the title I need to achieve a FIDE rating of 2000.

​By Kean Smith (kean@nimblemindschess.org)
 
 
In today’s article we are featuring an interview with Curtis Pride Jr., who won The Bahamas Junior Chess Championship 2022 which was organised and hosted by The Bahamas Chess Federation.
 
Interviewer: Curtis, congratulations on winning the 2022 Bahamas Junior Chess Championship.  How did you come to be introduced to chess? 
 
Curtis: I was introduced to Chess back at Garvin Tynes Primary School after a friend invited me to join the chess club.
 

Interviewer: What was your most memorable game during the 2022 Bahamas Junior tournament?
 
Curtis: My most memorable game was against my younger brother Avian Pride in the 3rd round. I was playing as black and the game opened with the Queen’s Gambit. The critical point of the game was at the beginning of a Knight vs Bishop end game. I secured the advantage when he hesitated to take a free pawn and I found a great tactic. The tactic I found gave me a much better position and led to me winning in the endgame.
 
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Interviewer: Have you played in any international chess tournaments?  Which tournament and countries?  
 
Curtis: Due to Covid, I’ve only played in one international chess tournament. That was the 2019 North American Youth Chess Championship tournament held in Canada. I played in the under 16 open section and the tournament was held in Kingston, Ontario at Queen’s University.

​Interviewer: Was this a memorable tournament?

Curtis: The North American Youth Chess Championship was a very memorable tournament for me. It was memorable because that is when I fully fell in love in chess. It also marks when I first began improving drastically. This is when I began to learn how to properly play chess endgames and how to play positional chess. My overall knowledge of the game and tactical skills also improved vastly.
 

Interviewer: Some people say that chess is a dull game.  Why do you continue to play?
 
Curtis: Chess is only a dull game when you don’t understand it. In order to enjoy the game, you must first be able to know what is actually happening over the board. I continue to play the game because I find it enjoyable and because of the many opportunities and benefits it provides.
 

Interviewer: What are three things that can be done that you believe can increase the number of junior chess players in The Bahamas?
 
Curtis: The number of junior players can be increased by holding various events, advertising the game in a way that is appealing to young people and by offering prizes to those who play well.
A prize could be anything from a food coupon to a new mobile phone or just pure cash.
 
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Interviewer: What are some of your favorite subjects in school?  Does playing chess help you with your academic studies? 
 
Curtis: My favorite subjects in school are Science and Mathematics. Playing chess helps me to think critically and solve problems which makes my studies a lot easier.

Interviewer: There is a possibility that the World Chess Champion, GM Magnus Carlson, may not defend his title.  What is your view on this?   
 
Curtis: I believe that Magnus should defend his title out of respect for his opponent.
 
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Interviewer: Lastly, now that you have won The Bahamas Junior Chess Champion, what is next for you in chess?
 
Curtis: My next goal is to win the Bahamian Senior Chess Championship at the end of the year. Other than that, I plan to improve my skills through hours of dedicated practice.

Interviewer: Curtis, thank you very much for your time and agreeing to this interview.  All the best at The Bahamas Chess Nationals.

By Kean Smith (kean@nimblemindschess.org)
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In today’s interview we will be talking with Janelle who travelled to this year’s Chess Olympiad as a supportive parent of her son Noah, who is representing The Bahamas at the 44th Chess Olympiad.  Janelle give a spectator’s view of this highly regarded chess event.

Interviewer:  I understand that you are in Chennai.  Where exactly is Chennai and what takes you there?
 
Janelle:  Chennai is in India, eastern India to be exact.  I am here because my son, Noah Albury, is playing in the 44th FIDE Chess Olympiad as a member of The Bahamas Open Team.  The Chess Olympiad is similar to the Olympics.  It is a chess tournament, held every two years, in which teams representing nations of the world compete in chess. One hundred and eighty-seven (187) countries are participating in this Olympiad.  The best of the best in chess are in India playing in this Olympiad:- Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, Vishy Anand and R. Praggnanandhaa just to name a few.

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Interviewer:  One might say that you are far away from home.  What was it like travelling to India during a pandemic?
 
Janelle:  Might say?  We are far away from home.  It took us some 20 hours to travel from Nassau to Chennai, that does not include layovers and check in times.  Our route was Nassau to JFK NYC, JFK NYC to Dubai (we were originally supposed go through Qatar but because of late arrival into JFK from Nassau we missed all our connecting flights and had to spend the night in JFK airport, but that is a story for another time).  Then we took a flight from Dubai to Chennai.
 
Travelling to India during a pandemic was fine once I overcame the Covid psychological barrier.  Once I put myself in the mindset that this was something we were committed to doing and took all the Covid precautions I was comfortable.  And once I think my children, my 11-year-old daughter is also travelling with us, saw I was at ease they were comfortable.

Interviewer:  The Chess Olympiad is probably the largest team chess competition globally. What were your expectations attending your first Olympiad and have any of them been met? 
 
Janelle:  My expectations were that this experience would be a once in a lifetime experience.  I was not entirely sure what to expect but I knew that if would be a learning and growth experience for us all.  My expectations were high when preparing for this trip and the trip has exceeded all my expectations.
Three of these positive, lifechanging experiences are:

1.  The 44th Chess Olympiad has been very organized.  This is a global, high-level event and it is evident that a lot of time and money have gone into organizing this event.
2. The fierce competition and angst of the chess Olympiad as with any sport.  The Competition is high and what it takes for a player both mentally and physically is a lot.
3. The exposure not only to India’s culture but also to the cultures of all the other participants who one has the opportunity to interact with.

 
Interviewer:  What are the conditions/provisions (environment) for spectators especially parents?
 
Janelle:  There is an app called FollowChess where spectators can view and follow games.  At the Tournament site there is also a spectator spot where one can sit to view games from the sidelines.  There are very strict guidelines to enter this spectator space: no cell phones or cameras allowed.  Those items must be checked in before entry and security checks bags for these items.  I had a chess magazine in my bag, and they made me check that into storage as well.  There are also jumbo screens set up all around the tournament site streaming games live, but those screens only stream the top tier countries.
 
I kept myself occupied by walking around the tournament site, there is lots to see.  There is an exhibition hall, a food court offering Indian and international foods, live performances and games on the outdoor lawn and chess presentation on topics such as the Social Impact of Chess and Women in Chess.  Furthermore, there are other parents here namely Angela Pride, mother of Chika Pride, Bahamas Women's Olympiad Team and Harold and Shirlene Watson, grandparents of Jayla Cargilll, member of The Bahamas Women's Olympiad Team.   

Interviewer:  Finally, would you recommend chess as an activity for children to other parents?

Janelle:  I definitely would recommend chess to other parents.  Of course the benefits of chess are well documented. These benefits include development of analytical skills, cognitive skills, strategic thinking skills and increase in focus.  I was having a discussion with GM Renier Gonzales, Captain/Coach of The Bahamas Olympiad Open Team and he put it aptly in these words: - “You do not have to be smart to play chess. Chess makes you smarter.”
 
Chess also offers opportunities for young people to travel and discover the world, fully paid, to play chess.
 
 
Interviewer:     Do you have any photos you wish to share?

By Kean Smith (kean@nimblemindschess.org​ )

Our interview today, features Trinity.  She has represented The Bahamas on multiple occasions and is giving this interview from Chennai, India while she is having a very successful tournament.

​​ Interviewer: Hello Trinity.  I do not believe that you are a stranger to Chess Olympiads?  Besides this Olympiad, in which other Olympiad(s) you represented The Bahamas?
 
Trinity: Hello You are correct I’m not a stranger to Olympiad(s). My first Olympiad was in 2018 in Batumi, Georgia.
 
Interviewer:  How do those Olympiads compare?  Which one did you enjoy more and why?
 
Trinity:  Both Olympiads are memorable however I am enjoying this one more because not only is there more chemistry between me and my team members but also I feel as if I’m playing better against stronger opponents.
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Interviewer:  Have you represented The Bahamas at any other chess events?
 
Trinity:  I have played in more international tournaments representing the Bahamas. They include the 2017 CARIFTA in Jamaica.  I competed in the Under 16 Division.
I then went on to play in CARIFTA Junior Chess Championship in Willemstad, Curacao in April 2019 and also The North American Youth Chess Championship Kingston, Ontario, Canada in 2019.
 
Interviewer:  I understand from reading FIDE’s website that you have provisionally earned a Candidate Master Title during this Olympiad.  What does this mean to you?  How do you feel about this?
 
Trinity:  You are correct again I have provisionally earned a Candidate Master title during this Olympiad. It means so much to me because I always wanted a title and to know I played well enough to earn one this Olympiad is just epic. I feel super proud of this achievement in my chess career because I finally felt as if I’m moving on up.
 
Interviewer:  Do you have any memorable games and moments from this Olympiad?
 
Trinity:  Yes I have a memorable game from this Olympiad it was Round 7.  I played a Woman Candidate Master and came out on top.  And overall it’s the best game I played yet. The most memorable moment however is when we got a 4-0 result in round 8 because the whole team came together and celebrated and I got an inside look of each player as an individual.  I also enjoyed going to the Zoo and seeing the elephants.