IN ANTICIPATION of a record number of participants, the Jamaica National Age-Group Chess Championships, set for March 8 and 9, has been moved to the National Arena for the first time in the competition’s history.
“It is at a brand new venue at the National Arena this year. We had to get a bigger venue because chess keeps growing in the country, and we expect that this particular tournament will keep increasing,” said Warren Elliott, the tournament’s organiser.
Elliott explained spacing issues at last year’s venue, the Summit Kingston, had proved the national championships would have needed a larger venue for the years to come.
The sport has seen a rapid increase in interest over the past few years, with Elliott anticipating in excess of 400 entries for next week’s event.
“We have been running this event for the last 14 years and every year, the number of participants have increased significantly. We have been watching a natural growth of participants and in general, a natural growth in chess,” Elliott explained.
“Last year, we had it at Summit, which we thought would be a big enough venue. But we found that it was not big enough for where the numbers have been going,” he continued.
“Entries are still being accepted until the week of the tournament itself so there isn’t a final number yet but we’re expecting it to exceed 400 persons. Again, we won’t know the final number until the registration is closed, but the entries are coming in quick and fast.”
The championship stands as the largest youth chess tournament in Jamaica and will be used to determine the persons who will represent Jamaica at international tournaments.
The event is split into six age groups – under-8, under-10, under-12, under-14, under-16, and under-18, with a male and female section for each.
While an individual contest, schools are encouraged to enter their students as a group to win special prizes based on their performance.
“It is really an individual tournament, because if you win the tournament in your section, then you will be the national champion,” Elliott said.
“But there are school prizes as well. There are prizes for the best prep and primary school, there are prizes for the best high schools, so you’ll find that a number of schools organise themselves to enter as group.”
With Grace Vienna Sausages, Tile City & Home Centre, and Big Daddy Water among their key and long-serving sponsors, Elliott is also open to bringing on board more sponsorships for the championship.
