More than 120 players from 14 countries have registered to compete in the Central American and Caribbean Youth Chess Festival which comes off at Cascadia Hotel, St Ann's, from August 13 to 19. Also, a total of 50 persons, including team officials and relatives are expected to accompany the visiting players. According to the T&TCA organising committee, this record registration exceeds the initial target of 85 foreign players and 30 accompanying persons.
The Association has expressed its gratitude for the sponsorship it has already received from the Ministry of Sport, First Citizens Asset Management, RHAND Credit Union, Blue Waters and Scrip J. However, the organisers are hoping that more sponsors will "come on board to assist in offsetting the increasing costs due to the overwhelming participation."
The coming CAC Youth Chess Festival is expected to be one of the largest ever held. Jamaica, Barbados, Aruba and Bahamas are the four English speaking countries registered to participate in the event. The others are Venezuela, Suriname, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Panama, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Colombia and Nicaragua.
In response to the record invasion of CAC teams, the T&TCA is hoping for a similar response from the country's young players who are invited to visit the Association's website, chesstt.org
Veteran Sears joins battle for chess crown
Candidate Master Frank Sears, one of the sports ranking veterans, has earned his place among this year's national finalists by winning the third qualifying contest held in San Fernando. Sears topped a field of 27 players with an unbeaten score of six and a half points in the seven round contest. He was held to a draw by promising youngster Isaiah McIntosh and had victories over CM Dev Soondarsingh, Roderick Noel, FM Ryan Harper, Colin Knight and Keevin James.
Harper also qualified with a score of five. Apart from his defeat by Sears, the seven time national champion defaulted his last round game to Simon Ramdath. The third qualifier was Mahendra Singh, another rising youngster who also finished on five. Singh, younger brother of IM Vishnu Singh, lost to McIntosh and drew with Keevin James and CM Cecil Lee.
These three qualifiers now join the list of finalists who include CM Adrian Winter Atwell, Hayden Lee, FM Frank Yee, FM Mario Merrit and FM Joshua Johnson. The fourth and final qualifying contest will be held in Arima next month.