Lots of chess is being played around the world and now we have serious online tournaments.
The Internet Chess Club recently organised an online event where the first prize included travel to the Gibraltar Chess Festival from any location in the world. The prize also included entry and accommodation plus board for the entire tournament. Former world champion Tigran Petrosian, familiarly known as the ‘Rock’ because of his unshakeable defensive play, took first in the event.
The World Youth Championships were held in Turkey last month and provided an opportunity for young chess talents from around the world to participate and perhaps, meet future stars and world champions.
Turkey has become an important venue for chess, and the Turkish Chess Federation (TCF), under the leadership of Ali Nihat Yazici, has an enviable record for promoting the game. For example, starting from 2000, the TCF has organised 80 international tournaments including a chess Olympiad in Istanbul, the European and World Championships and a number of other huge events. The World Youth Championships which were held last month attracted well over 2000 players with 1500 parents and accompanying persons in attendance.
Six years ago, Turkey had 3000 registered chess players. Today, some 170,000 persons are registered players with the TCF, thereby increasing the number of young ELO rated and titled players in the country. What an achievement!
At home, the Steering Committee for the Development of Chess will continue the promotion of the game countrywide. The committee will host its presentation of prizes ceremony for the recently concluded National Championships at the King’s Plaza Hotel on Tuesday, December 18. The ceremony will take the form of a reception for participants in the championships and other invitees.
Now that the championships are over, priority will be given by the committee for the establishment of a new federation and the promotion of chess in areas outside Georgetown.
