TEAM Fiji continued its campaign at the 46th World Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, with the women’s team recording a 3-1 victory over Burundi while the open team fought to a two-all draw against Kiribati.
The women’s team produced a solid performance, securing three wins to claim another team victory at the international tournament.
Kieran Lyons, Tanvi Prasad and Latileta Masau contributed wins for Fiji, while the team also secured a draw in the remaining game.
The result adds to Fiji’s campaign as the women’s side continues to compete against teams from around the world.
The open team faced a tougher battle against Kiribati, with the match ending in a 2-2 draw.
Chess master(CM) Goru Arvind and CM Rudr Prasad recorded wins for Fiji, with Prasad’s game lasting about four hours and 30 minutes before he secured the point.
Arvind, who also serves as the open team captain, said the match demonstrated the importance of patience and concentration at this level of competition.
“Chess at this level is a showcase of skills, traps, lures, structures and, most importantly, patience,” he said.
He said seeing his teammates score was a rewarding experience for the team.
With the Olympiad moving towards its final stages, both Fiji teams remain focused on finishing their campaigns strongly.
The appearance also marks Fiji’s third consecutive participation at the Chess Olympiad, following the previous editions in Chennai in 2022 and Budapest in 2024.
The tournament has provided Fiji’s players with further experience against international competition, with some team members also in contention for international title norms.
The final stages of the Olympiad will determine Fiji’s overall results as the teams continue their push on the international stage.
Fiji has been fielding key wins at the Olympiad and have progressed much farther into the latter half of Chess tourney after recording impressive wins against formidable competitors from around the world in Samarkant, Uzbekistan.
