BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, September 29, 2026 — Barbados’ Women’s and Open chess teams improved on their 2024 performances at the 2026 FIDE Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan, an international team tournament held every two years. The Women’s team finished 103rd, improving by 17 places, while the Open team placed 121st, moving up 13 places.

The Open team recorded four match victories and two draws over 11 rounds. Barbados defeated The Gambia and the Isle of Man 4–0, overcame Aruba 2½–1½ and Curaçao 3–1, and drew 2–2 with higher-seeded Colombia. Barbados finished ahead of the other English-speaking Caribbean teams in the Open section.

FIDE Master (FM) Martyn Del Castilho scored six points from nine games, including victories over International Masters from Colombia, Portugal and Bolivia. FM Justin Blackman scored six points over 11 rounds, including a win against an Egyptian Grandmaster.

The Women’s team recorded five match victories and one draw. Barbados defeated Mauritius and Cameroon 4–0 and finished just outside the top 100.

Woman FIDE Master (WFM) Hannah Wilson led Barbados’ individual scoring with 7½ points from 11 rounds. Her victory over Sri Lanka’s Woman International Master Devindya Oshini Gunawardhana was one of the team’s notable results. Gunawardhana entered the tournament rated more than 400 points above Wilson.

Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Chanon Reifer-Belle scored a respectable five points from 10 games, including a victory over Jordan’s Woman FIDE Master Razan Alshaeby.

“Both teams improved on where we finished in 2024, and that is progress every Barbadian can celebrate,” said Barbados Chess Federation President Allan Herbert. “Our players faced strong international opposition, produced memorable results and showed that Barbados can continue to advance on the world stage. We came close to the top 100 in the Women’s section, and we know what we must work towards next.”

Neither team achieved the Federation’s top-100 target. The Federation’s separate goal of a top-10 finish in Category D was not applicable because both teams were assigned to Category C. Jamaica finished ahead of Barbados in the Women’s section.

Also present in Samarkand were Minister of Educational Transformation Chad Blackman, team official Natasha Reifer-Belle and the Federation’s International Director, Andrea Marshall-Harris. Minister Blackman made a ceremonial opening move for Barbados against Aruba and signed an agreement with international chess organisations aimed at supporting the introduction of chess in Barbadian schools.

Grandmaster Sergey Kasparov coached the Open team, while Woman International Master Tatiana Kasparova coached the Women’s team.