Shergil makes history with Jamaica’s first FIDE Schools Championship medal
Key Points(5)
- Rajvir Shergil has etched his name into Jamaican chess history, becoming the country’s first medalist at the FIDE ISCF World Schools Team Chess Championship.
- Shergil produced a standout individual campaign at the tournament, which concluded over the weekend, finishing third overall on Board 2 while representing Creative Kids Learning Academy (CKLA).
- The bronze medal marked Jamaica’s first-ever podium finish at the prestigious schools championship.
- CKLA battles across the Americas Shergil was part of CKLA’s four-player lineup alongside Luke Wright, ACM Jayden Hylton and Isabel Misir.
- The Jamaican school finished 14th in a highly competitive field featuring 29 schools representing 25 countries from across the Americas.
Rajvir Shergil has etched his name into Jamaican chess history, becoming the country’s first medalist at the FIDE ISCF World Schools Team Chess Championship.
Shergil produced a standout individual campaign at the tournament, which concluded over the weekend, finishing third overall on Board 2 while representing Creative Kids Learning Academy (CKLA).
The bronze medal marked Jamaica’s first-ever podium finish at the prestigious schools championship.
CKLA battles across the Americas
Shergil was part of CKLA’s four-player lineup alongside Luke Wright, ACM Jayden Hylton and Isabel Misir.
The Jamaican school finished 14th in a highly competitive field featuring 29 schools representing 25 countries from across the Americas.
The championship was ultimately won by Saco Oliveros de Lince of Peru, with Harvest Park Middle School of the United States taking second and Cresent Heights Academy of Canada securing third.
For CKLA, however, the individual breakthrough from Shergil provided a historic highlight.
Coach praises youngsters’ resilience
CKLA coach Warren Elliott praised the team’s determination, particularly after the young Jamaicans repeatedly found themselves facing experienced and, in some cases, older opponents.
“I’m extremely proud of these youngsters. They prepared hard and displayed true grit playing against opposition, in some instances, much older than they are. Rajvir’s historic performance will put a smile on my face for years to come,” Elliott said.
Shergil’s medal was the culmination of a tournament in which CKLA endured both convincing victories and difficult setbacks.
Strong opening, tough early test
The Jamaicans began their campaign in impressive fashion, defeating Colegio Padre Agustin Valentini of El Salvador 3-1.
That positive start was followed by a much tougher assignment against eventual runner-up Harvest Park Middle School, which swept CKLA 4-0.
Rather than allowing the heavy defeat to derail their campaign, the Jamaicans responded immediately.
CKLA fights back
CKLA bounced back with a 3-1 victory over Unidad Educativa Salesianos Don Bosco Macas of Ecuador before earning a 2-2 draw against Colegio Celta Internacional of Mexico.
The Jamaicans then suffered another setback, losing 3-1 to Columbus American School of Colombia.
Again, they responded.
CKLA defeated British School of Costa Rica 3-1 before producing another 2-2 draw, this time against The Oxford School of Panama.
The final round proved unforgiving, with Saint Gabriel’s School of Peru handing CKLA a 4-0 defeat.
Yet the final result could not erase the landmark achievement produced during the competition.
Shergil’s bronze opens a new chapter
While CKLA’s 14th-place finish reflected the difficulty of the tournament, Shergil’s third-place result on Board 2 gave Jamaican chess a milestone to celebrate.
Against a field spanning the Americas, the young Jamaican emerged as the country’s first FIDE ISCF World Schools Team Championship medalist.
For Shergil, it was an individual achievement. For CKLA, it was the reward for months of preparation and perseverance. And for Jamaican chess, it was a historic first that could inspire the next generation of young players to believe that the international podium is within reach.
