The 2026 edition of the Barbados Primary Interschool Team chess championship comes off this Thursday and Friday at the Wildey Gymnasium starting at 9.00 a.m. each day.

The tournament is a 5 round Swiss team event with each team being made up of 5 players with a possible two reserves and is open to all public and private secondary schools and each school being able to enter up to a maximum of three teams. Each player scores a point for a win, a ½ point for a draw and zero for a loss. The cumulative game points are then used to determine the championship winners.

The champions of 2025, Charles F Broome, will be looking to defend their crown this year as they seek a three- peat of successes. They have been the dominant force of Primary school chess under the guidance of coach Corie Elcock over the last few years.

Last year, Charles F Broomes ‘A’ team eked out an exciting half – point win over second place finishers St. Winifreds. St. Winifreds had retained most of their players from last year, but due to the tournament clashing with exams, they have decided to forego the event. Unfortunately, also the 2025 third place finishers in the event St. Giles will not also be participating.  However, last year’s fourth place finishers St. Gabriels will be in action, and they will be looking to improve their finishing position from last year.

Last year’s championship had 20 teams participating from 14 primary schools and this number should increase this year. The Barbados Chess Federation continues to encourage the growth of the game in the school system and will be looking forward to cooperating earnestly with the Ministry of Education’s ‘Chess in Education program’ which it should soon implement.