Two prominent young T&T chess players, FM Keron Cabralis and CM Dev Soondarsingh, have been awarded scholarships by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation to undertake four years of study for the Bachelors Degree in Physical Culture, with specialisation in chess. Before they begin this programme, however, the two will have to spend a year studying the Russian language at the Tula State Pedagogical University in Moscow.
According to Quintin Cabralis, Keron's father, this preparation is necessary because all courses in the main programme will be conducted in Russia's national language.
After they become proficient in Russian, the two T&T students will proceed to the Russian State University of Physical Culture, Sports, Youth and Tourism in Moscow to complete the scholarship's total of five years of study.
According to Russian Technical Coordinator Kostjev, "the curriculum in the RSSU meets the international bachelor programme standards that imply about 1000 hours of training during four years. However, the results depend on the initial level of the student."
According to the information DR has received, the two T&T students will receive personal training from a Russian grandmaster and, in addition, they will have opportunities to play constantly in different tournaments.This training programme should break new ground in advancing the quality of chess in T&T and, indeed, throughout the region.
As DR has been told, "this particular course prepares the student for a career as an internationally recognised and competent chess trainer, with the ability to improve the level of a chess player to that of a grandmaster. The international degree also allows the holder to train any person or team anywhere in the world on the basis of his Russian training and certification."
Although it may now seem a bit too early, the T&TCA should not only welcome this advanced training opportunity but also begin to devise a professional programme by which our bright young players could benefit to the maximum extent from it. Indeed, with this team of internationally recognised chess trainers, T&T may eventually have the capacity to produce home-made grandmasters.
Twenty-one-year-old Keron Cabralis has established an impressive record of success in the sport since he won the National Under 8 title. He went on to become national champion in every age group from Under 8 to Under 18 while playing unbeaten. He was the youngest player to hold Under 12 and Under 20 national titles simultaneously.
At Nassau in 2010 he became the youngest player in the English speaking Caribbean to attain the FIDE Master title. In the same year, he was also the youngest TT male to participate in the Olympiad in Russia. He won a CAC gold medal in El Salvador in 2006 and performed with distinction in several other international tournaments.
Meanwhile, Ryan Harper, on six and a half points, maintains his lead after seven rounds of the eleven-round national championship finals. Behind him are Joshua Johnson on six and champion Kevin Cupid on five and a half. After three rounds of the Knights Championship, three players are in the lead, Esan Wiltshire, Cesar Ramos and Leonard Duncan, with three points each.