TCI BJJ Shines at World Master’s Championship in Las Vegas

The Turks and Caicos Islands Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Team members share lens at the event.

The Turks and Caicos Islands Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (TCIBJJ) team delivered an impressive showing at the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) World Master’s Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada, held from August 28 to 30.

While the squad did not secure the overall tally of victories they had hoped for, their campaign featured a string of memorable moments that underscored the grit and skill of the island’s athletes.

Among the highlights was a spectacular flying triangle submission executed by Norman Saunders, marking a powerful debut at purple belt on the world stage. His brother, Josh Saunders, also displayed remarkable determination, narrowly missing out on wins in tightly contested matches that were decided by slim advantage margins. The rest of the team pushed hard in the qualifiers, gaining invaluable experience against top-tier international opponents.

Coach Shaun McCormack (right) etched his name in TCI sporting history by claiming a bronze medal, the team's first-ever World Master's podium finish.

The standout achievement came from Coach Shaun McCormack, who etched his name in TCI sporting history by claiming a bronze medal, the team’s first-ever World Master’s podium finish. Competing in one of the toughest brackets of the tournament, McCormack dominated his early matchups and battled his way to the semifinals, falling just short of advancing to silver as time expired in his final contest.

“This is the largest Jiu Jitsu competition in the world every year and it’s always a challenge,” McCormack reflected. “We continue to train with the best in the world and prove that the talent level from our islands is world class.”

The World Master’s Championship is widely regarded as the pinnacle annual event in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, drawing thousands of competitors from across the globe. With McCormack’s podium finish and strong performances from the Saunders brothers and the rest of the squad, TCIBJJ has firmly placed the Turks and Caicos Islands on the global Jiu Jitsu map.