St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) Chess Federation has been granted full membership of the sport’s world governing body- the International Chess Federation (FIDE).

SVG’s induction came on December 28, 2021 at the 92nd General Assembly of FIDE held in Warsaw, Poland.

Last week’s formalities come on the heels of this country’s provisional membership which was attained on October 27, 2021.

The SVG Chess Federation was formed in March 2019, and held its first National Chess Championships on December 12 last year.

Chinedu Benjamin Enemchukwu was crowned St Vincent and the Grenadines’ first National Chess champion.

With full admission to FIDE, SVG can participate in the World Chess Olympiad.

According to a release from the FIDE, full membership means that St Vincent and the Grenadines, will begin receiving “development funding and capacity support”.

Apart from St Vincent and the Grenadines, Niger, Dominica and Belize, gained FIDE’s full membership.

President of the SVG Chess Federation- Israel Bruce has indicated that getting new members into the fold is the organisation’s immediate focus, with the nation’s schools, being the target group.

Bruce is hopeful that current players will also encourage others to join the sport, and previous players will get back into the groove.