Over 400 professional chess sets, carrying a retail value of approximately EC$30,000, are expected to be distributed to primary and secondary schools throughout the State of Grenada during the first-ever “Chess Week” in the OECS and possibly the wider Caribbean.
Those chess sets are the types most commonly used in local, regional and international tournaments.
Organised by the Grenada Chess Federation (GCF), Chess Week 2026 begins on 2 March and culminates on 7 March 2026, the final day of the 2-day Independence Chess Tournament (28 February and 7 March).
Throughout the week, members of the GCF will be visiting primary and secondary schools in every parish to distribute the chess sets, introduce the basics of the game, and provide guidance on the formation of chess clubs in the various schools. In what is accepted to be a very ambitious project, whatever schools are not reached during the week will be targeted for visits by the end of March 2026.
During Chess Week 2026, priority will be given to secondary schools as the GCF hopes to stage the first-ever Inter-Secondary School Chess Tournament by the last quarter of 2026.
No parish left untouched
The aim is to donate a minimum of 5 chess sets to each school, which in turn will identify at least 10 students for the launch of the chess club. As the clubs grow, GCF will provide more sets. Very important in the exercise is the identification of at least one teacher in each school to be responsible for the chess club.
The next stage of the project will be the provision of online training for members of the various chess clubs. Sustainability is key.
Every parish, including Carriacou and Petite Martinique, will be targeted during Chess Week 2026.
Bringing chess nationwide
The GCF has the full support of the National Sports Council (NSC) and the Ministry of Education in its drive to introduce and develop chess in schools. The NSC, which intends to include chess as part of its inaugural National Games (parish competitions) in 2027, has pledged to collaborate with the GCF during Chess Week 2027.
Through its membership of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and the Confederation of Chess for the Americas (CCA), the GCF was able to secure the professional chess boards to facilitate its ongoing project to Bring Chess Nationwide.
Chess is well known to increase memory capacity and attention span, enhance problem-solving and critical thinking, improve concentration and communication, and promote discipline.
GCF