Press Release
The Bahamas Chess Federation is pleased to announce the successful conclusion of the 2026 Warren Seymour Classic, the first event in the Federation’s Open Series and the first qualifying tournament for the 2026 Bahamas National Chess Championship.
The tournament featured strong competition and also served as an important training event for members of the 2026 Bahamas Chess Olympiad Team, providing valuable over-the-board preparation as the national team continues its build-up for international competition.
Emerging as the tournament champion was Avian Pride, who scored an impressive 4½ points from 5 games to finish clear first. Candidate Master Byron Small finished second with 4 points, while Sohan Umesh also scored 4 points, placing third on tiebreaks. Olympiad team member Philip Hanna Jr. finished fourth with 3½ points, followed by William Davis in fifth with 3½ points.
With his victory, Avian Pride becomes the first player to qualify for the 2026 Bahamas National Chess Championship through the qualifying series, while Candidate Master Byron Small also secures qualification by virtue of his outstanding performance.
The event also highlighted the strength of the Bahamas’ Olympiad squad. Avian Pride, Philip Hanna Jr., Candidate Master Byron Small, Woman Candidate Master Chika Pride, and Diana Williams are all members of the 2026 Bahamas Chess Olympiad Team and used the tournament as an opportunity to sharpen their competitive form ahead of international play.
Notably, Avian Pride and WCM Chika Pride are the only two junior players on the 2026 Olympiad Team, underscoring the success of the Federation’s commitment to developing young talent capable of competing alongside the nation’s top players.
The Bahamas Chess Federation congratulates all participants for an exciting tournament and thanks the players, officials, and supporters who contributed to its success. The Warren Seymour Classic marks an important first step on the road to the 2026 Bahamas National Chess Championship and reflects the Federation’s ongoing mission to create meaningful competitive opportunities that develop Bahamian chess at every level.
Final Top Five
- Avian Pride – 4½/5
- CM Byron Small – 4/5
- Sohan Umesh – 4/5
- Philip Hanna Jr. – 3½/5
- William Davis – 3½/5
