Joshua Johnson Is Teaching Strategic Thinking to a New Generation Through Mind Warriors

By Kekeletso Nkele, small.news Assistant

(small.news) — The former Chess Champion of Trinidad and Tobago knows that chess is the gymnasium of the mind. Because of this, he has created an academy called Mind Warriors, and his vision goes beyond the chessboard.

Joshua Johnson founded Mind Warriors in 2023 with a mission to deliver engaging programs that sharpen chess skills and strategic thinking, while nurturing focus, confidence, critical thinking, and essential life skills in every participant.

Balancing Strategic Mindset With Intellectual Discipline

Joshua has many accomplishments as the Fide Master and current National Chess Champion for Trinidad and Tobago. He also holds the Blitz Championship for the 8th time and is the Rapid Chess Champion for the 2nd time.

His journey began with winning the National Junior Chess Championship at the age of 11, and he continued to hold it six more times. He became a silver medalist at the CAC Games in 2023, and was the first English-speaking, Caribbean player to win a medal. Many more accolades can be mentioned, but he is more than a chess champion.

Joshua completed a BSC in Actuarial Science in 2022 from UWI, St. Augustine. He has learned how to balance a strategic mindset with intellectual discipline, which has helped his academic and chess career.

Mind Warriors’ Mission

Mind Warriors aims to use chess to teach the necessary skills of the game and the necessary skills of life. Mind Warriors Academy produces engaging programs that sharpen chess skills but also strategic thinking. Nurturing focus, confidence, critical thinking, and essential life skills in every student as well.

For a mission as important as Mind Warriors, Joshua realized that he would need a team truly capable of making it a reality. This team consists of coaches and mentors who each have their own expertise to share with students.

Joshua’s team consists of:

– Enen-Sa Tefa Ab Khafra, CM, conditional and National Arbiter (coach), holds a FIDE standard rating of 1907, ranking him 18th among active players in Trinidad and Tobago.
– Simon Ramdath, CM conditional (youth mentor), former National Under-18 Champion.
– Daryl Davis, CM (coach), FIDE trained, served as 2nd Vice President of the Trinidad and Tobago Chess Association
– Gabriella Johnson, WIM (girls in chess lead), WIM title at only 16 years old, and currently the only WIM in Trinidad and Tobago
– Sean Yearwood, national instructor, youth mentor, and FIDE Candidate Master
– Jesse Maharaj, coach
– Kailah Latchman, coach
– Jerome Richardson, coach

The combination of skills spread across these coaches makes it possible for young learners to not only learn from Mind Warriors, but also form a community of like-minded individuals who are skilled professionals passionate about chess education.

Mind Warriors’ Agenda

Mind Warriors Academy was founded on the premise of helping nurture the development of local chess players with a vision to become the region’s leader in providing high-quality chess development services. They aim to do so by emphasizing that chess is a great tool to learn skills that are transferable in life, while surrounded by a community of like-minded individuals. Mind Warriors has become a pillar in the community, helping facilitate the growth of the youth through intellectual and cultural skills.

The Mind Warriors Team knows that through learning chess, one can learn how to strategically apply oneself and nurture focus, confidence, and critical thinking.

Mind Warriors’ Program and Events

Mind Warriors Chess Festival, held on July 19 and 20, 2025, in collaboration with Valkyries Chess Club, has been hailed as a major success by participants, organizers, and supporters. The two-day event brought together chess enthusiasts of all ages (from 6 to 71) and skill levels in a vibrant celebration of the game across two great venues: Fatima College and Valpark Plaza.

The action kicked off at Fatima College with the Rapid Open and Rapid Novice tournaments, where players demonstrated resilience and sportsmanship in a competitive yet friendly environment. Then, the following day, at Valpark Plaza, International Chess Day was spent with the Blitz 960 event and the Blitz Open.

Shoppers and spectators at the plaza got to enjoy chess matches that showcased both speed and creativity on the chessboard.

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