Good news: The Caribbean Chess Carnival is back on track! The popular international tournament which was threatened by money problems this year has been rescued by unexpected offers of sponsorship, according to Edison Raphael, president of the T&T Chess Foundation, organisers of the annual contest.
DR is delighted to announce this happy turn of events and takes a bow for contributing to it. In last Thursday's column DR had reported on the Foundation's decision to cancel this year's Carnival after a reduction in sponsorship made this inevitable.
Raphael broke the sad news when he addressed youngsters taking part in the RHAND Scholastic Chess Challenge in Scarborough. What emerged from DR's report is a sequel that bodes well for the future of the sport, demonstrating its expanding popular support.
"Following announcement of the cancellation of the Carnival last week," Raphael related, "we were inundated with calls of encouragement from parents and chess enthusiasts as well as offers of additional sponsorship for which we are deeply grateful.
Thanks to this support, we can now put our heads together to restructure the tournament, mindful of the fact that the Caribbean Chess Carnival had become a major event, both locally and regionally. None the less, we expect the coming Carnival will provide not only fun and excitement for our young players but also serious challenges for their developing chess skills."
As for DR, the almost spontaneous reaction of support from members of the chess and business communities is quite gratifying. It seems to indicate, at least, a growing popular appreciation for this centuries-old mind game and its value as a disciplining exercise for our young people.
The Chess Carnival will be a seven-round contest taking place from August 7 to 9 and open to school children and junior players under 20 years old. It offers a $18,000 cash prize fund for the top five finishers in each of its five categories; Novices, Under 10, Under 12, Under 14 and Under 20.
Trophies will also be presented to players finishing in the first ten places in each section. Registration for the tournament can be made at the Website www.caribbeanchesscarnival.com or by calling 678-0132.
According to Raphael, a venue for the event is yet to be decided.
In spite of the somewhat late invitation, the T&TCF president is hoping that the Chess Carnival will still attract the usual full turnout of players from other Caribbean countries including Barbados, Jamaica and Suriname.
What are the prospects for a return of the Open section of the Carnival? "Again, it all depends on the level of sponsorship," said Raphael. "Inviting top players from the wider region and other parts of the world, including masters and grandmasters, would require a much greater level of funding," Raphael explained. "At the very least, the prize money must be attractive enough to bring them here."
He recalled that champions of the Open Carnival included such players as three-time winner IM Pecorelli of Cuba, IM Simutowe of Zambia and GM Sagilchek of the US. Apart from them, masters from various Latin American countries participated in the event.
Under Raphael, an experienced chess administrator, the T&TCF has done and is doing more to grow this mentally enhancing sport than any other organisation in our country. Because of its objective, the Foundation deserves the fullest possible support from lovers of the game and the business sector.
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