A visit by FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich to Guyana later this year and the expansion of chess in the Americas were some of the decisions made at the 2022 FIDE Congress held recently in Chennai, India.
According to president of the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) Frankie Farley, Dvorkovich, who was reelected president of the organization early last month, has promised to visit Guyana in the fourth quarter of the year.
The date, however, said Farley, is yet to be confirmed.
Farley said there is also a possibility that he could serve FIDE in an advisory capacity.
“I was invited to an interview by FIDE president and his team for an appointed VP position or to serve on the newly established advisory board.”
Farley also said that he plans to commence discussion with the chairman of the Planning and Development Committee (PDC) of FIDE for the establishment of a new unique initiative that is specific to the expansion of chess in all regions of Guyana and the establishment of a scholarship fund to motivate and encourage girls in the playing of chess.
The PDC is also considering modifying the current system with a focus on creating a government specific index for the determination of the level of funding to national federations.
Also arising out of the Women in Chess Commission meeting was a commitment to place more emphasis on having more girls and women involved in the administration work of the national federations.
“The congress was historic,” said Farley.
“There is great anticipation that the excellent leadership started by president Dvorkovich in his last term will continue and that chess will expand, especially in the Americas and Africa.”
According to the GCF president the local federation needs to think outside of the box and not rely on the guidance of traditional regional leaders.
“The GCF must chart its own path going forward as it relates to voting at congresses regionally and globally.
“It’s clear that should we have followed the guidance of those traditional regional leaders, all of our votes cast would have been in the minority.
“We need to approach the development of chess with an independent view based on keen and prudent analysis and not on personal allegiance perspective,” he declared.
“I’m confident that the Guyana Chess Federation is in a stronger position now than prior to the congress. We have created new alliances that will ultimately translate into added value to our federation,” he ended.
