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Five males were shortlisted for The 2022 Prime Ministers National Youth Awards for Excellence in sports. They included sprint sensation Bouwahjgie Nkrumie of Kingston College, West Indies cricketer Rovman Powell, national and world Under-20 triple jump champion Jaydon Hibbert, and professional body-builder Daniel Haughton.

But, it was the youngest of them all, fourth former Jaden Shaw, the chess prodigy from Wolmers Boys School, who went onstage to collect the prestigious award from Prime Minister Andrew Holness on the lawns of Jamaica House recently.

To receive the award is great, as many people who were nominated didnt win. So I am grateful. And it was a pleasure to meet and greet so many people, the St. Andrew Preparatory School past student told The Gleaner, Allow me to thank my coaches, parents, sponsors, family, friends and my church family for always encouraging me to be the best I can be at whatever I do. Above all, I would like to thank God for blessing me with all my talents. Without Him, who would I be?

At 14 years old, Shaw is a 2021 Jubilee Chess Classic winner in Grand Cayman, a 2022 FIDE Chess Olympiad Candidate Master, a 2022 Jamaica National Master, the 2023 National Under-16 and Under-20 Absolute Champion, a 2022 Central America and the Caribbean Under-16 Absolute Gold Medallist, a 2022 FIDE Chess Olympiad Fair Play Award winner, and the 2023 RJR Chess Sportsman of the Year.

He is also a member of Wolmers A team that won the 2023 All-Island High School Chess Championships, and the Spirit of Excellence Awardee, when he was in first form, after winning the Corona Virus Online Chess competition from a field of 567 competitors worldwide. His stats: 20 wins, four drawn and one loss. His latest achievement was on Sunday, April 9 when he became Jamaicas youngest-ever national chess champion.

Yet, it was by chance that he got interested in chess.I have been playing since about eight, as I was introduced when I went over a friends house to play some video games and he had this fancy chess set. We played and he won, and the interest bloomed from there, he explained. And the rest is history still in the making.

Along the way, he said, he was guided by National Master Ryan Blackwood, of Chess Whiz Kidz Academy, who made learning chess fun and easy. Now, he is coached by International Master Jomo Pitterson, who was Jamaicas first-ever International Master, which is just below the ultimate chess designation of Grand Master. At Pitterson Chess Institute, where he said there are many young, talented players, he and his training partners, John Stephenson and Darren McKennis assist where the opportunities present themselves.

And, for those who do not regard chess as a sport or as a minor sport, Shaw has this to say, To the people who dont regard chess as a sport, I honestly just ignore because chess is a sport and it is growing more and more, and very soon it should be a consensus that it is one . Also, for persons to stop referring to chess as a minor sport. All sporting disciplines are equally important, more so to the athletes who sacrifice a lot to be excellent ambassadors, locally and internationally, on behalf of their discipline. His dream is for everyone to accept chess as a sport and for the competition to grow and the community to expand.

Yet, Shaw is as physical as he is cerebral. He has received a Wolmers Blue Report every academic year since 2019. The Blue Report is for those who have an average of 80 per cent and over. He does karate, swims, and is a member of Wolmers Under-19 basketball team.

And about his future? Im still indecisive right now, but I want to do data analytics, and maybe go professional in chess, he replied.

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Wolmers chess genius tops them all | News - Jamaica Gleaner

SHERIDAN The Sheridan Chess Association will host its second international chess tournament at the Ramada Plaza in Sheridan May 5-7.

The tournament is attracting players from across the U.S., with internationally recognized players including Grand Master Alex Fishbein attending from Tennessee, and Grand Master Fidel Corrales Jimenez and International Master Justin Sarkar attending from New York. For the second year in a row, players are expected to participate from the Kyrgyz Republic in Central Asia including Woman FIDE Master Sovetbekova Nurai. Wyoming State Chess Champion Dan Joelson of Cheyenne is also expected to attend.

We are super excited to be hosting this international tournament again this year, said Brian Kuehl, treasurer of the Sheridan Chess Association. This is a tournament for all levels of players we have kids and adults from Wyoming and surrounding states who will be playing in their first tournament in Sheridan. If you love chess, this is the tournament for you.

Last year, the tournament attracted more than 75 contestants and was won by International Master Sarkar.

This year, the tournament has been expanded to include $7,575 in prizes awarded across four divisions so people can play against players of their own skill level from beginners to some of the top players in the world.

The Sheridan tournament will include:

A Friday afternoon six-round blitz tournament where each player has five minutes to complete all of their moves in each game.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday long-format games in an Open division that will include Grand Masters and International Masters.

Saturday and Sunday long-format games in three divisions sorted by level of play from unrated/beginner to the top level of amateur play.

Were excited to add the new blitz tournament on Friday afternoon for people who like to play speed chess, Kuehl said. Blitz tournaments are a bit chaotic but they are a lot of fun to play and watch.

The tournament is open to anyone who wants to play, provided they have joined the U.S. Chess Federation. To register for the tournament and for links to join the U.S. Chess Federation, see SheridanChess.com.

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Sheridan Chess Association hosting international chess tournament ... - The Sheridan Press

John Fox could not keep himself out of the game.

The former Giants defensive coordinator was out of the NFL for four seasons after he was fired as head coach of the Chicago Bears after the 2017 campaign. He got a gig as an analyst for ESPNs coverage of the league he spent the previous two decades, then retired to Florida with his family during the coronavirus pandemic.

But the more he watched the NFL from his couch instead of the sidelines, the greater the itch to return grew. He tested the waters as a senior defensive consultant for the Indianapolis Colts last season, and this upcoming 2023 campaign, he will serve in a similar position with the Detroit Lions.

I think whenever even ex-players, a lot of players that Ive coached, when they get out of the game, you miss the camaraderie, you miss the day-to-day, you miss the closeness of the people cause you work very, very close, whether youre playing or coaching, Fox said, according to the Detroit Free Press. So I missed that. Naturally, youd miss that. Its like an old boys club.

But digging into it, what I missed I felt more than just the camaraderie was the, How can we stop this? How can we mess them up in this area? Its the chess match part of it. I didnt realize Id miss it that much, and really enjoyed that a year ago and looking forward to doing that all over again here.

Fox left the Giants in 2002 when he was namedPanthershead coach. The next year, he led Carolina toSuper Bowl XXXVIII, which it lost to theNew England Patriots,32-29.

Fox took over asBroncoshead coach in 2011, and two years later, withPeyton Manningat the helm of the offense, led Denver to an NFC title. But the Panthers lostSuper Bowl XLVIIIto theSeattle Seahawks,43-8, atMetLife Stadium.

In 16 seasons as an NFL head coach, Fox won 133 games and made seven playoff appearances.

In Detroit, Fox joins aLionsteam on the rise. They finished the 2022 season bywinning five of their six final gamesto narrowly miss landing an NFC wild card.

MORE NFL:

-Giants new year starting with drama | Is absence of two stars a big deal at this time of year?

-2023 NFL Draft: If Eagles decide to trade up from 10, what could it cost and the 3 players worth moving up to take

-Giants Saquon Barkley skipping spring workouts. So what? He has no leverage and should take what he can get now

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.

Brian Fonseca may be reached at bfonseca@njadvancemedia.com.

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Ex-Giants coordinator comes out of retirement because he misses NFL chess match - NJ.com

Jolly-Joice Nepandos outstanding performance at the recent Namibian National Chess Championships earned her the honour of the top female player in the country.

The nine-round event took place from 17 to 21 March at the Nictus Cultural Centre in Windhoek, where Nepando finished with a score of eight points, seven wins, and two draws, demonstrating not only true mastery of the game but also strategic moves and tactics that earned her a spot on the national team.

My long-term goal is to become the number one female chess player in Africa, says Nepando, who founded the Fianchetto Chess Academy along with Women Candidate Master (WCM) Lishen Mentile in 2017.

The academy was established to inspire mass participation in the sport among the youth.

We both have an intense love for the game, hence, we wanted to pass on our chess knowledge to the next person, especially children because of its vast benefits, she says, adding that part of their strategy is to get chess incorporated into the education curricula.

The benefits of chess include travelling the world for competitions like the upcoming African Individual Chess Championship in Egypt from 5 to 14 May.

I had a unique experience in each of the tournaments. Not only have I gained more experience, it has also moulded me into a stronger player, and opened my mind to new cultures and different customs and backgrounds, says Nepando.

She says her most memorable tournaments were in Istanbul, Turkey, in 2012; the 2014 World Chess Olympiad in Tromzo, Norway, where she earned the WCM title; Baku, Azerbaijan (2016), Batumi, Georgia (2018), and Chennai, India (2022).Nepando grew up at Soweto, Katutura, where she discovered the game of chess at Martti Ahtisaari Primary School.

That is where I learned to play chess, I was taught by Mr Hindjou. I believe I was 11 years old at the time, she says.

Nepando credits the sport for helping mould her into a well-rounded person, an experience she recommends for her compatriots.

My words of encouragement to any aspiring chess player out there are: keep pushing yourself, never give up on your dreams and always strive for greatness. If you put in the effort, the results will come, she said.

The Fianchetto Chess Academy also wants to encourage aspiring chess players to take advantage of our programmes and learn how to master the game of chess, she says.

We have an experienced team that is available to help new students and we offer flexible classes, study plans, and tournaments for all levels. So, if you have been considering giving chess a try, now is your time. We offer private lessons, chess school lessons, group lessons and corporate team-building sessions using chess as a tool, says Nepando, the Namibian female World Chess Olympiad record holder.

We would like companies and individuals to invest in chess, partner with the Namibian Chess Federation, or chess academies around the country and work on life-changing projects, Nepando, who matriculated at Abbotts College in Cape Town, South Africa, says.

She also coaches chess, using sign language for hearing-impaired pupils.

I learnt how to use sign language at the University of Namibia. I felt it was important to learn sign language because I believe in inclusivity and making sure everyone has the opportunity to learn and excel at chess, says Nepando.

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Chess champion looks to inspire the youth - Namibian

Photo for illustrative purposes.

The Sarah Baartman District Chess Union (SBDCU) hosted the second of its three trial events at Fountains Mall on April 1, attracting at least 176 determined players from several schools and chess clubs across the region, as well as interested spectators and supportive parents.

The three-trial qualifier will be followed by a closed tournament, to which selected players will be invited.

A district team will be chosen for the provincial chess tournament later this year.

In addition to playing a minimum number of games, players must participate in at least two of the three trials taking place in Kouga, and obtain a score of 50 percent or more in each, to be invited to the final closer.

The greater region was well-represented by the following schools, Graslaagte Primary, Stulting Primary, St Francis College, Jeffreys Bay Primary, Pellsrus Primary, Pharos School, St Dominics Priory, Victory Christian School, Kings College, Victory 4 All, Victory Primary, Global Leadership Academy, Graeme College, Horskool McLachlan, Paul Sauer High, Nico Malan High, Union High, Hor Volkskool and Spandau Secondary School.

Individuals, and the Rhodes University Chess Club, also entered, giving organisers a balanced mix of age groups from u/8 to adult.

It was evident from this trial that players do take their chess and trials seriously, said SBDCU head, Petrus Stuurman. There were changes in the winning orders. In some age groups, one noticed that some of the first trial medal winners did not make the podium this time around.

Stuurman said that the third and final trial will be played from June 23 to 24, with players having a choice of six tournaments in which to participate until the next trial, which will include the annual Kouga Mayors Cup in April, which is exclusively for Kouga-based players.

He thanked Fountains Mall for hosting the venue, Nadine Scheepers for her hard work behind the scenes and Jeffreys Bay Primary Schools Beryl Christodoulou, who organised tables and chairs for the event.

ISSUED BY SARAHBAARTMAN DISTRICT CHESS UNION

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Second season of chess trials a great success - News24