Chess with Errol

National Schools Chess Championship for Saturday

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Schoolchildren across the country who play chess are eagerly awaiting the commencement of the National Schools Chess Championships this Saturday at the Carifesta Sports Complex, Carifesta Avenue. The two-day tournament is being hosted by the Guyana Chess Federation in association with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.

20091206tiwariSchools around Georgetown, the East Coast and East Bank of Demerara, West Demerara, Linden, Berbice, Bartica and the Essequibo coast have contacted the federation seeking participation in the championships. Schools can compete in either the Team Tournament category, or, alternatively, in the Individual Section. If a school cannot field a team of four for the team tournament, it would be allowed to compete in the individual category. On the other hand, no school would be allowed to field more than two teams for the championships.

Schools with a sizeable number of players, like Queen’s College, West Demerara Secondary and Mackenzie High will be allowed to field an ‘A’ team and a ‘B’ team consisting of four players each. Most of the other schools will be limited to one team only, so as to allow for  maximum participation in the championships.

In many instances, the championships provide the only forum for schools to compete with each other, and herein lies the excitement of schools’ competition. Mackenzie High and West Demerara for example, may be one of the more anticipated matches.

During the first National Schools Chess Championships that were held at Queen’s College last December, Carlos Griffith and Kana Khan (in photo) represented Dolphin Government School and Tutorial High, respectively. Both players were new to the game at the time, but they have since improved their standard of play by participating frequently in tournaments. This year’s championships will be held next weekend at the Carifesta Sports Complex, and Griffith and Khan, among many others from schools in Demerara, Berbice, Linden, Bartica and the Essequibo coast will be competing.
During the first National Schools Chess Championships that were held at Queen’s College last December, Carlos Griffith and Kana Khan (in photo) represented Dolphin Government School and Tutorial High, respectively. Both players were new to the game at the time, but they have since improved their standard of play by participating frequently in tournaments. This year’s championships will be held next weekend at the Carifesta Sports Complex, and Griffith and Khan, among many others from schools in Demerara, Berbice, Linden, Bartica and the Essequibo coast will be competing.

Plans were being made until recently for the two schools to meet on a one-on-one basis, but they did not materialize. Now over the weekend, we will have the opportunity to witness this match-up.

In many countries, the National Schools Championship is a giant chess event. Schools are where the future lies, and here is where we find grandmasters for the first time ever. In addition to the championships over the weekend, the federation is hosting a Chess Fair and Fun Day at the Carifesta Sports Complex on Carifesta Avenue. A chess booth will be exhibiting chess sets, clocks, demonstration boards, books and other material to the visiting public. National champion Wendell Meusa will be giving a public blindfold chess exhibition, the first of its kind in Guyana. Rides for kids will be available also, in addition to popular DJ music,  food stalls and drinks bars. The Fun Day begins at 3pm. Tickets can be obtained at the Kei-Shar’s stores on Camp St and Regent St.

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