Bermuda celebrates outstanding Chess Olympiad performance in Samarkand

New international titles cap an impressive showing on chess's biggest stage

SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan - Bermuda has completed an outstanding 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, returning from the world's biggest team chess event with new international title achievements and a series of strong performances across both national teams.

The two-week Olympiad was the largest in history, with a record 394 teams competing - 205 in the Open section and 189 in the Women's event - and more than 3,000 players, captains and officials gathering in Uzbekistan.

Two of Bermuda's biggest successes came from Nathan Dennis and 13-year-old Dylan Flanagan, who both achieved the performance requirements for the FIDE Candidate Master title.

Dennis finished with 4.5 points from 11 games, while Flanagan scored 4.5 from 10, including victories over opponents from Saint Kitts and Nevis, Senegal, Brunei and Namibia.

On the Women's team, Yasmin Flanagan produced a superb tournament, scoring seven points from nine games and achieving the performance requirement for the Woman FIDE Master title.

It also created a memorable family story, with mother and son Yasmin and Dylan Flanagan both achieving international title results at the same Olympiad.

The Bermuda Open team of Christian Guanzon, CM Don Dacres, Nathan Dennis, Dylan Flanagan and Wolde Place, captained by International Master Mihnea Costachi, finished with seven match points.

Among the highlights was Guanzon's victory over 2071-rated FIDE Master Simplice Armel De Gondo, while Dennis and Flanagan both produced important results against higher-rated opposition.

"The players showed tremendous resilience through 11 demanding rounds. They kept fighting, kept learning and represented Bermuda with real pride. To leave the world's biggest chess event with two new Candidate Master, and a woman FIDE master title is a tremendous achievement."

The Bermuda Women's team of Kaelyn Fleming, Yasmin Flanagan, Sophia Burch, Kelly Massa and Francesca Cressall-Haycock, captained by Candidate Master Sami Lill, finished with six match points, recording victories over Djibouti, Dominica and Chad.

Every member of the team contributed points, while three players were competing in their first Olympiad.

Thirteen-year-old Cressall-Haycock also celebrated her first victory at Olympiad level.

"For a small island to step onto the biggest stage in world chess and compete with confidence is something Bermuda should be enormously proud of. Every player contributed, three experienced their first Olympiad, and we leave Samarkand with new titles, invaluable experience and some unforgettable moments."

The results mark another important step forward for Bermuda chess and underline the progress being made by both the Open and Women's national teams on the international stage.