The Antigua and Barbuda Chess Federation warmly welcomed Nigel Short to Antigua. Greeting him on arrival were Hannibal Fleming (President), Matthew Bailey (Vice President), and Julian Piper (Media Manager and PR). Shortly after, the delegation joined a social gathering at the Cedar Valley Golf Club with Sir Vivian Richards (National Hero and legendary cricketer) and Leon “Kuma” Rodney (President of the Antigua and Barbuda Cricket Association).
During the evening, Sir Vivian Richards reflected on his connection to chess, recalling a visit from Viswanathan Anand during a tour of India and sharing the inspiration he drew from the 1972 Fischer–Spassky match.
The following day, Nigel Short hosted a simultaneous exhibition against some of Antigua’s strongest players, including members of the national team representing the country at Chess Olympiads.
He also encouraged the country’s female players, as Antigua plans to send its first women’s team to the 46th Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan. Short won all eight of his games. The event was attended by His Excellency Sir Rodney Williams and his wife, Sonja Williams, as well as Sir Vivian Richards and Kuma Rodney.
Next, Nigel Short and Hannibal Fleming appeared live on ABS Television to discuss the growth and future of chess in Antigua and Barbuda.
Afterwards, they met with several government officials: the Honorable Darryl Matthew (Minister of Education, Sports, and Cultural Affairs), the Honorable Paul “Chet” Greene (Minister of Foreign Affairs and President of the National Olympic Committee), the Honorable Prime Minister Gaston A. Browne (Minister of Finance, Investments, and Corporate Governance), and the Honorable Charles Max Hernandez (Minister of Tourism). Each minister expressed strong support for the federation’s initiatives and pledged assistance with future events and resources.
The visit also included a stop at the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus, where the delegation met with Principal Professor Justin Robinson. He emphasized the importance of using chess to strengthen campus life through tournaments and instructional programs.
To conclude his trip, Nigel Short visited the Island Academy and Cobs Cross Primary School, where he introduced students to the fundamentals of chess and encouraged them to continue learning the game.
Text and photos: Antigua and Barbuda Chess Federation