The mysterious game of royalty, chess, was given a plaudit over the weekend as a seven-round, Swiss-system, two-day chess tournament was conducted from yesterday, Saturday, at Congress Place, and will conclude today, Sunday.
Attorney-at-Law James Bond, who sponsored the tournament, has pledged adequate monies, trophies, and chess medals for the weekend extravaganza.
Although the tournament would be held in a junior category for participants 20 years and under, and an open section for mature and veteran players, the primary target audience in an effort to identify exuberant talent would naturally be our youths. Bond has expressed the desire also for the faded chess players of yesteryear to come forward even if they have not played the game in years. Today’s event promises to be one overflowing with fun and light banter in juxtaposition to the serious business of conducting chess with an international flavour. What is significant is that August 6 marked the death anniversary of former president Forbes Burnham who founded both the Guyana Chess Association and the Guyana Chess Federation.
During a succinct telephone interview, Bond disclosed that although he learnt chess late, he remains fascinated by the game. Its possibilities are limitless. Similar disclosures have been expressed by others over time. Chess can raise one’s IQ, and help players utilize vital brain tissue. The ancient game exercises both the right and left hemispheres of the brain and controls the maturity of Alzheimer’s according to astudy published by the New England Journal of Medicine. Additionally, chess is creative. Playing chess improves one’s memory, increases problem-solving skills, mathematical skills and concentration levels. The discipline also encourages planning and foresight. And as an afterthought, when you have your opponent in a damning checkmate situation, it becomes hilarious. Your satisfaction lies in the fact that your opponent has been out-manoeuvred.
It is a disappointment that the James Bond tournament was not highlighted on the Guyana Chess Federation’s Facebook page. As the common saying goes, the Federation’s silence is deafening. What can be the difficulty with that? Essentially, our youths depend on this medium of expression to learn of current events. It seems to me they have a penchant for surfing the internet in contrast to reading the newspapers and looking at television programmes.
It is required therefore, for us to strike a balance with our youths, and make available to them whatever they desire, within limits. In this instance the Federation assuredly is not in the driver’s seat. Let me say this clearly; numbers attract deep-pocketed corporate sponsors. We need the youth in numbers if chess is to accelerate.
I read about the Bond chess tournament in the Kaieteur News and immediately I sought to alert chess acquaintances of the almost miraculous news. The Federation has hosted a single one-day chess tournament, a semi-rapid/blitz in the last eight months! Although chess is a glamorous game, and brings prestige, fame and fortune to its eminent contenders, the glamour is unnecessary at this stage of our development. Numbers represent all that matters. If we cannot attract numbers, chess will continue to limp along pathetically throughout time.
Bond has demonstrated initiative in a quest to nurture the golden game. Participating youths cannot complain of prize monies being too meagre. I am wishing the added monies continue to circulate as a trend for encouraging our youths to play chess.
At the last one day tournament which the Federation hosted, I was pleasantly surprised when I realized the collective prize fund. It made the competition fiercer. We can do better if we solidify our membership of the Federation. Obtaining additional members would cause our Federation to be financially stronger, and essentially, powerful.
All are invited as onlookers to the James Bond chess event at Congress Place, Sophia.
