Chess players across St Vincent and the Grenadines will have a second chance to win the TYRONE JACK MEMORIAL TROPHY this weekend, as the 2nd annual National Chess Championship kicks off in St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Chinedu Enemchukwu, the current (conditional) FM and National Chess Champion, will seek to hold off his challengers as the University of the West Indies Open Campus hosts the clash of the mind titans.
Twenty-five people are expected to compete in the championship, which will take place from Saturday, December 10th to Sunday, December 11th, 2022, and will begin at 10 a.m. on both days.
It is expected that 25 players will compete in this year’s championship, representing a 150% increase over the inaugural championship in 2021. There will be a youth category for the first time, consisting of players aged 18 and under.
The championship will be led for the second time by Mr Brian Cottle, Chairman of Competitions and Development Sub-committee, who is also a national team member and Chess Olympiad who is currently a (conditional) CM as Arbiter.
A number of students will compete in this year’s championship, while others are expected with the Ministry of Education’s encouragement.
A new feature designed to educate beginning players will debut in the 2022 edition of the championship. At the games, the Federation will have an education corner where non-players can learn the fundamentals of the game. This will benefit both teachers and students. Teachers who want to become chess trainers can attend to learn the game so they can teach it at their respective schools. Following an evaluation on Sunday, December 11, 2022, a young chess wizard will be awarded a prize.
Trophies, cash prizes, and national titles will be given to the winners. The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Chess Federation hopes to use this National Championship to identify a group of young players from which players will be chosen to represent St. Vincent and the Grenadines at regional and international championships.
The closing ceremony will take place on Sunday, December 11, 2022, and will feature remarks from sponsors, Chess Federation officials, and others.
The tournament is also expected to produce a list of senior players from which the national team will be chosen for the FIDE Olympiad, which will be held in Budapest, Hungary in 18 months.
The SVG Chess Federation hopes to begin its calendar with the inaugural Chatoyer International invitational. This will bring at least four (4) GM (Grandmasters) of chess, as well as a slew of other regional and international players, to the shores. The His Excellency Joseph Chatoyer trophy will be the top honour.
Bally & Bally Investment Ltd, the University of the West Indies Open Campus, and CG Productions have all contributed to this year’s Championship.
