The Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) will stage its first tournament of the year on Saturday at the Kei-Shar’s Sports Club on Camp and Hadfield Streets.

The tournament will be played using the Swiss system format and will consist of seven rounds with a time limit of three hours per game.

The first round will start at 16:30 hours with registration at 15:00 hours.

Rounds two and three will be played on Sunday from 10:00 hours while rounds four and five are scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday respectively from 17:00 hours; the remaining two rounds will conclude on Sunday from 10:00 hours.

Registration fee for members not affiliated with the GCF will be  $800 while members will pay $300. Junior competitors who are members will be required to pay $200 and non-members $600.

The tournament is sponsored exclusively by Trophy Stall of Bourda Market and City Mall. Proprietor of the Trophy Stall, Ramesh Sunich has indicated that this will be an annual event.

The GCF is also urging all members to update their membership fee for the 2010 calendar year. Membership fee for senior players is $2,000 while the junior is $1,000.