THE first annual Guyana Chess Federation (GCF)-organised Red Cherry Ladder Chess Tournament gets under way this Sunday at the Kei-Shar’s Sports Club with rapid chess games over the next few weekends. The ladder tournament, the first of its kind, challenges players to score wins and remain on the top rungs of the chess ladder and is open to all male and female chess players.
The CEO of The Red Cherry Café, Loris Nathoo, the brainchild of the inaugural tournament, said, “Chess has been instrumental in my life since I was a young boy and I believe that as a country we should make a concerted effort to have chess taught to as many persons of all ages.”
“Chess trains you to think ahead and gives you the opportunity to reflect on the consequences of each decision you make over the chess board. In other words chess provides you with the opportunity to practise important life skills”, he said.
Nathoo concluded by saying: “It is for this reason that The Red Cherry is partnering with Kei-Shar’s and the Guyana Chess Federation to invest a total of $500 000 in this development drive.
This is a novel way for players of all ages to compete in a dynamic, fast-paced and highly competitive tournament to hone their skills and be crowned the first ever Ladder Chess Champion in Guyana”.
Registration begins at 09:30hrs at the venue and the first round starts one hour later. The fee is just $100 for members and $300 for non-members of the GCF.
The first six rounds are fixed for July 22 with cash prizes and Red Cherry vouchers to be distributed immediately after to the top finisher.
The first-place winner will receive $5 000 cash, a $5 000 voucher and a trophy, second-placer will receive a $4 000 voucher and a medal while the third prize is a $3 000 voucher and a medal.
Similar prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers as the tournament progresses. A total of 32 rounds are scheduled over the next few weekends.
During every round, players will each have 15 minutes on the clock to complete their game.
The top four finishers from the 32 matches will meet in a double round-robin clash scheduled for Saturday August 11. The top four will each have only ten minutes on the clock and the winner of that encounter will receive $50 000 cash plus a $50 000 voucher and trophy. The other three participants will also receive vouchers and medals.
Playing dates for the tournament are: Sunday July 22 (6 rounds) – 10:30hrs; Thursday July 26 (4 rounds) – 16:30hrs; Sunday July 29 (6 rounds) – 10:30hrs; Wednesday August 1 (6 rounds) – 10:30hrs; Sunday August 5 (6 rounds) -10:30hrs; Thursday August 9 (4 rounds) – 16:30hrs; Saturday August 11 (Playoffs) – 10:00hrs.