Polina Karelina

Polina Karelina (born 19 May 2001) is a Bahamian chess player who holds the title of Woman FIDE Master. As of February 2026, Karelina was the highest rated player in the Bahamas.

Early life and career Karelina was born in Ukraine and moved to the Bahamas when she was four years old. She grew up on Paradise Island. In 2011, she competed in the World Youth Chess Championship in the under-8 and under-10 girls sections. The same year, she competed at the Susan Polgar Foundation Girls' Invitational in Saint Louis, Missouri, placing 25th of 64 players.

In 2017, Karelina won the Bahamas Junior Championship. In 2018, she represented the Bahamas in the open section at the 43rd Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia. In March 2019, Karelina won the Bahamas Junior Chess Championship, placing first in the under-18 and under-20 categories. In 2022, She competed as a member of the open team at the 44th Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India.

In 2024, Karelina earned the title of Woman FIDE Master.