What would the state of our beloved sport be without the Knights Chess Club? DR shudders to answer the question, as the consequent deprivation would be quite severe.
Following the demise of the upper-level RVI some two decades ago, Knights not only assumed the role of the country's leading chess club but also displayed an innovative spirit that has uplifted and expanded the sport in several significant ways.
The chess community, in fact, owes a lasting debt of gratitude first to the late Lucio Araujo and now to Louis Wiltshire, the two Knights presidents who are largely responsible for taking the club and, as a consequence, the sport to such progressive levels.
Outside the national championship run by the T&TCA, the club's two annual tournaments, the Open and the DeVerteuil Memorial, have become the two most popular, prestigious and keenly contested events on the country's chess calendar, attracting the best junior and senior players.
Over the years, Knights has updated the sport by introducing substantial cash prizes for its tournament winners and the rating of players first in its Open and later in the DeVerteuil Memorial.
The spirit animating Knights may be gleaned from its memorial to "the grand old man of chess," a lasting tribute to the late Andrew DeVerteuil whose career was marked not only by his longevity among the best, but, more uniquely, his unfailing willingnes to assist younger players to improve their game. DR, one of his "students", remembers him with lasting affection.
In addition, the club has kept the sport active and enjoyable by introducing a whole family of novel contests including its current and initial Rapid Tri-ology, a three-stage event that concludes on Saturday April 4 at the Ellerslie Park home of president Wiltshire.
The first "episode" of the Tri-ology, a 15-minute rapid for Under 1900 players, came off on February 25 and was won by Carl Archer with Miguel Francois, Sylvan Seaforth, Mark Patihk and Peter Soverall runners up. The second event was held on Saturday March 14 for Under 2000 players and ended in a three-way tie for firsrt place comprising Cesar Ramos, Anderson Gordon and Shawn Cudjoe. Gabriella Johnson was fourth.
Joshua Johnson heads the list of 20 of the country's top players, rated over 2000, expected to contest the third and final section. They include Ravishen Singh, Esan Wiltshire, Kevin Cupid, Cesar Ramos, Anderson Gordon, Hayden Lee, Shawn Cudjoe, Marlon Austin, Gabriella Johnson, Miguel Francois, Sylvan Seaforth, Carlyle Singh, Mark Patihk, Duff Drayton, Louis Wiltshire, Peter Soverall, Carl Archer, Eon Rambally, Zachary Allen, Tyron Agostini, Della Marie Walcott and Jordan Robertson.
Winners of the first two contests will receive $250, $200, $150 and $100 in prizes. First prize of the third leg has been increased to $300.
Another entertaining tournament conducted by Knights is the Louis Gomez Pestana Memorial, a bi-annual invitational, commemorating the life and career of a former stalwart of the royal game and head of the chess-steeped Gomez family. In the same genre is the Melee, a composite contest comprising staggered, rapid and blitz components running over July and August.
The Louis Araujo invitational, in fond memory of the club's late president, completes the "family" of tournaments conducted by Knights.
The unique success of Knights as a chess club wasn't earned by chance. It is the result not only of the astute leadership of retired T&T ambassador Wiltshire but also of the loyal and experienced support he enjoys from members of his executive team, including Clayton Gomez and John Everon plus, of course, the lasting friendship of Rhand Credit Union whose headquarters building located on Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain, has now become the "traditional" venue of its two major tournaments. Viva Knights.