The US Virgin Islands Chess Federation is proud to announce its delegation to the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad, to be held September 15–27, in the historic Silk Road city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
The Olympiad will bring together more than 200 national teams for two weeks of elite competition, cultural exchange, and global celebration of chess.
Samarkand, known as one of the major corridors through which early chess spread westwards, will host players in the state-of-the-art Silk Road Complex and EXPO Center, with full accommodations provided by the organizers for all official team members.
USVI Delegation
The US Virgin Islands will field both an Open Team and a Women’s Team, each consisting of five players and a team captain, as confirmed in the federation’s official notice to players.
Open Team
• FM William Van Rensselaer
• Naitik Jhanwar
• Patrick Miller
• Darryl Allen
• Marco Emile
• Captain: Sinclair Wilkinson
Women’s Team
• Dejw Wrensford
• Anne Kershaw
• Lois Williams
• Kalima Williams
• Dru Ubben
• Captain: John Dempsey
Gail Widmer will serve as Head of Delegation, coordinating all logistics with the Olympiad Organizing Committee.
An Historic Opportunity
The 2026 Olympiad promises to be one of the most significant chess events ever held in Central Asia. As noted in the invitation, “chess unites people regardless of nationality, language, or cultural boundaries” and the event will “serve to further strengthen cooperation and mutual understanding between nations.”
USVICF President Sinclair Wilkinson expressed pride in the teams: “Our players have worked hard to earn their place on the world stage. Representing the Virgin Islands at the Olympiad is both an honor and a responsibility, and we look forward to showcasing our talent in Samarkand.”
