Bahamas Chess Federation
Chess across seven hundred islands.
The national championship, the junior title and Olympiad selection for players from Nassau to Inagua.
27Active FIDE-rated players
6National titles for Kendrick Knowles
10Players in the 2025 championship
2026Olympiad team selected
Top rated
The Bahamas on the FIDE list
The highest-rated active players on the official FIDE list.
- 01Nicholas JohnsonFIDE 26145881987
- 02Polina KarelinaFIDE 10400222WFM1908
- 03Franklyn GibsonFIDE 104000281900
- 04Cecil MoncurFIDE 10400583FM1897
- 05Byron SmallFIDE 10400044CM1848
- 06Kendrick KnowlesFIDE 10400451CM1839
Reigning champions
CM Kendrick Knowles2026 · National Champion · 6 titles
FM Cecil Moncur2025 · National Champion
Avian Pride2025 · National Junior Champion
Champions Coming up
Upcoming tournaments
Enter online and pay by bank transfer. Upload the receipt and the organiser confirms your place.
NOV7Independence OpenSat 7 – Sun 8 Nov 2026 · NassauFrom B$30FIDE rated 60 placesDEC5Warren Seymour ClassicSat 5 – Sun 6 Dec 2026 · NassauFrom B$50FIDE rated 80 placesJAN9National Junior ChampionshipSat 9 – Sun 10 Jan 2027 · Boost Academy, PalmdaleFrom B$25FIDE rated 40 placesJAN22National Championship 2027Fri 22 – Sun 31 Jan 2027 · NassauFreeFIDE rated 120 places
What we do
Chess for every Bahamian
01TournamentsSanctioned championships, opens, rapid and blitz, run to FIDE rules all year.02Ratings & selectionThe FIDE and national rating lists, and selection for the national teams.03Schools chessSchool teams, coaching for teachers and the national schools championship.04TrainingSquad training for national players and a path for gifted juniors.05ArbitersArbiter courses and seminars, on the path to FIDE arbiter titles.06ClubsRegistered clubs and schools in every island, and help to start a new one.
Membership
Join the federation
Members play sanctioned events, are eligible for national selection and get federation news first.
AdultB$50per yearPlayers 18 and over
- Play in sanctioned federation tournaments
- Eligible for national team selection
- Your own account to see your entries
JuniorB$25per yearPlayers under 18
- Play in sanctioned federation tournaments
- Eligible for national team selection
- Your own account to see your entries
ClubB$200per yearClubs and schools
- Play in sanctioned federation tournaments
- Eligible for national team selection
- Your own account to see your entries
Play for The Bahamas.
Enter a tournament, get a rating and work toward selection for the national team.
With thanks toBahamas Olympic CommitteeFIDEBoost Academy