The University of Fiji’s Comprehensive Strategy of Chess Education in Fiji (Chess in UNIFIJI) is gaining the reputation of promoting good chess globally and has now reached strategic cooperation with other countries in education enhancement as well as Fijians in these countries.

The program supports student learning, encourages thinking skills, and has even been praised by world-famous chess champion Garry Kasparov.

To celebrate World Chess Day, the University held its first-ever Student Blitz Chess Competition on Friday, July 18, 2025. The event took place at the University’s Main Hall and included 14 players who competed in seven fast-paced rounds.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Shaista Shameem said the event was a great way to mark World Chess Day and showed how UniFiji is using games like chess to help students think better and learn more.

“The University’s international chess profile has grown from strength to strength ever since it was first offered as a stress-buster during the Covid lockdowns when students of the University were encouraged to play chess online”.

She said that the game of chess was supported fully at the University due to its value in strategic thinking, mental dexterity and building the competitive spirit required for intellectual innovation and systemic development.

“Students who play chess do very well in their studies, and the University sees chess as a value-added learning tool”, she said.

Chief Arbiter Ricardo Gregorio C. Corpuz III ran the competition and said that this was a big moment for UniFiji as this is the first of many tournaments for the university.

“It started from here, then we will be having more tournaments. This will invite new players and students to play chess.”

Winners of the day were:
– Men’s Champion: Erick Auto (MBBS 1)
– Women’s Champion: Avani Lingam (MBBS 2)

The Chess in UniFiji program is growing. It now includes games between staff, tournaments for primary and secondary school students, and even international online events. In partnership with the Fiji Chess Federation, the university is helping young people learn new skills through chess while building a strong image for UniFiji in the Western Division.

UniFiji students also joined an international online chess competition through Lichess, where they played with students from other countries. This showed UniFiji’s commitment to new ideas and global learning.

During his speech at the 2025 Kasparov Chess Foundation University Cup, Garry Kasparov said that UniFiji was “leading the way in using chess to foster strategic literacy and intergenerational learning.”

With more tournaments and outreach events planned, UniFiji is committed to helping students become smart thinkers, disciplined learners, and future leaders one move at a time.