Dominica’s youth chess team will compete in the XV Pan American U7–U17 Championship in El Salvador from May 11-18, 2026.
Dominica: The Dominica Chess Federation (DCF) has announced that a team of four outstanding students are set to compete in the XV Pan American U7–U17 Chess Championship 2026 from May 11 to May 18, 2026. The Dominica youth team will depart for Sonsonate, El Salvador on May 11 where they will face international competitors with hopes of representing and making Dominica proud.
The one-week competition is being organised by Confederation of Chess for Americas (CCA) and Salvadoran Chess Federation (FSA), with the competition scheduled to take place at the Hotel Royal Decameron Salinitas.
The XV Pan American U7–U17 Chess Championship 2026 will gather the best youth players from across the Americas who will compete in different events set to test their skills. This tournament will give the players an opportunity to earn international titles and rankings.
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Team Dominica consists of players who have been selected following their strong performances in the 2026 national qualifiers.
The chosen chess players to represent Dominica include current U-18 Junior Champion Lucas Sorhaindo, who is a student of the Saint Mary’s Academy. Lucas will compete in the U-17 Absolute Section.
Moreover, Jarius Hypolite, a student of Saint Mary’s Academy, and Ken-G Delsol of the Isaiah Thomas Secondary School will also compete in Absolute Section. Hypolite will participate in the U-15 division, while Delsol will take the U-13 division.
The Federation has also announced that one female, Shermel Timothy, from Convent High School will contend in the U-17 Female Section. The team will be guided by Candidate Master Nigel Francis who has taken the role of both coach and guardian.
President of the Dominica Chess Federation, Carlton Morvan, has emphasized the importance of this tournament for the young players, stating that their participation is a reflection the Federation’s commitment.
"Our youth players are ambassadors of Dominica. Their participation reflects our commitment to building a strong foundation for chess education and international representation," stated President Carlton Morvan.