Barbados’ Women’s FIDE Master Hannah Wilson made her debut at the 2025 FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup on Sunday in Batumi, Georgia, making history as one of the Caribbean’s youngest-ever representatives at the sport’s highest knockout stage.
Wilson, the lowest-seeded (107th) player—with an international rating of 1934—was defeated 2–0 by American International Master Carissa Yip across the two classical games. The loss meant she exited the single-elimination event at the first hurdle; however, she earned the respect of the international chess community for her fighting spirit and rapid progress in recent years.
Yip, who has an international rating of 2431, was the top seed in the first round and 22nd overall, as the 21 top-rated chess players received byes into the second round.
Just 16 years old, Wilson, the lone English-speaking Caribbean player, arrived in Batumi as one of the youngest players in the field. Her path to Batumi was forged through a dominant winning performance—eight points from nine matches, at the Subzonal 2.3.3 Qualifier in Trinidad and Tobago earlier this year. Securing the Subzonal title earned her automatic qualification to the World Cup.
The Queen’s College student became the youngest female national champion in Barbadian history at age 13, and is now a two-time national women’s champion. Competing in Georgia against some of the world’s best players provides vital exposure as she continues her development.
While her World Cup run has ended, Wilson returns to Barbados with fresh experience. She remains a strong contender for future zonal and continental events, and local chess officials believe she has a real shot at earning the Women’s International Master title within the next few years.
Wilson’s World Cup debut represents a milestone for Caribbean chess. Barbadian International Master Orlando Husbands has also qualified for the 2025 FIDE Men’s (Open) World Chess Cup to be held later this year in October and November in New Delhi, India. Their presence on the world stage sends a powerful message about the region’s emerging talent and its potential to compete with the best.
The 2025 FIDE Women’s World Cup in Batumi is a seven-round, single‑elimination event featuring 107 players, with the top 21 seeds receiving byes into round two. Each match comprises two classical games—90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the remainder, plus a 30‑second increment from move one. If a matchup is tied after the classical games, players proceed to rapid tiebreaks: first two games at 25+10, then 10+10; if still tied, two blitz games at 5+3; and finally sudden‑death blitz at 3+2 (alternating-colour draw until decisive result). Each round takes place over three days: two for classical games and a third, if needed, for tiebreaks. The winners of the semifinals face off in the final, while the two semifinal losers contest a third‑place match.
rohansonnwaithe@barbadostoday.bb
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