Youth Chess Tournament in Petit Trou (Part II)

As internally displaced families leave Port au Prince, and youth population in Petit Trou grows, local leaders express that afterschool and summer enrichment programs are more important than ever. Thanks to the work of lead chess coach Joseph Alvyns and our local team of mentors and educators, Petit Trou’s chess league recently celebrated months of work and progress by hosting our inaugural chess tournament.

The ASFPN / Locally Haiti Youth Chess Tournament, held July 8–15, 2025, brought together four teams of young players – Chevalier (St. Paul’s School), Petit Trou de Nippes Library, Grand Ravine Mame, and Team Gardère – for a week of competition, learning, and community. Teams played in a round-robin format, with five players per team selected for each 45-minute match.

The tournament began with an opening ceremony and a warm welcome from ASFPN staff, who spoke about the mental health benefits of chess and its power to build focus, confidence, and resilience. Each day of the tournament began with a short reflection, a review of the rules, a drawing to match pairings for the day, and then play. After the day’s games were completed, everyone gathered to share food and reflect on the day, reviewing mistakes to support learning and preparation for the next day’s play, celebrating growth, and connecting chess strategies to real life skills.

July 15 was the final day of the tournament, and in the end, Team Gardère took first place, followed by the Library team in second, Chevalier in third, and Mame in fourth. At the closing ceremony, Lisson Michel thanked everyone involved and awarded medals. Captains shared reflections and gratitude for the week, and ASFPN closed with a commitment to continue to host more competitions. More than just a tournament, this event celebrated hard work and discipline, good sportsmanship, and building community. We look forward to sharing more as the youth chess movement in Petit Trou continues to evolve and grow!

***Special thanks to Teresa Henry and the Bobby Niebauer Trust for special funding for this celebration. We are grateful for always for your support and friendship, and we are honored to remember Bobby in Petit Trou.***