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Beginning August 3rd, Jamaica will be hosting its 34th National Championship. Twenty-four individuals will be competing for the coveted crown held by FM Warren Elliott for the past two years. Will this year bring a change? Given that this tournament will boast one of the strongest fields in recent history and will institute a new 9-round Swiss format, anything is bound to happen. This year's event will be sponsored by one of Jamaica's leading software firms, KRYS FINANCIAL SOFTWARE. Christopher Green, Managing Director of KRYS, made a commitment for a three-year sponsorship (worth J$150,000).
Additional incentives make this an exciting event. The top six players in the National Championship will make up the Olympiad team which will be competing this year in Bled, Slovenia. On the women's side Keisha Ramator will defend her title, but she will be challenged this year by the 17-year old star from China, Zhu Hui. Ms. Zhu learned chess less than a year ago and she has caused a stir in Jamaica with her incredible talent. This tournament will also feature a player regarded as the strongest woman player in Jamaican history, Maria Palmer.
The Jamaican Chess Federation has hired the services of a National Coach, Alexander Vaysman from the Ukraine to help the National Teams prepare for the Olympiad. One can see that Jamaican Chess is on the rise and appears to be bolstered by successful programs such as the Liguanea Chess Club. With sponsorships and a solid training ground for future players, look for better things to come out of Jamaica!
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