TWO CONTINENTS AND THE CARIBBEAN CLASH IN CHESS TOURNAMENT

The Trinidad and Tobago Chess Foundation is preparing to welcome 100 odd participants from South America, Africa and the English and non-English speaking Caribbean to its CMMB Caribbean Chess Championships on 8th August, 2007. The venue for this tournament will be Ambassador Hotel on Long Circular Road, Maraval.

The 8-round Swiss style tournament, open to both junior and senior players will take place over a four day period starting on Wednesday, 8th August, continuing daily, and ending on Saturday 11th August. Juniors' games will run from 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. and seniors' games, from 10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. Four categories: Under Age 10, Under Age 14, Under Age 20 and Open have been defined and the tournament venue will be transformed into a Chess arena, where the powers of concentration and cerebral skill will be tested. CMMB Ltd., title sponsor of the tournament is eager about its involvement; CMMB Ltd.'s Managing Director and C.E.O., Ram Ramesh elaborated "we are confident that our involvement in this tournament will assist in the building of intelligence and the development of intellect, morals and ethics in the tournament's participants. This tournament presents an ideal opportunity for us to contribute toward the development of youth, while simultaneously promoting a game (Chess) that is known internationally to be constructive".

Top local junior players Chantal Fitzpatrick, Rafael Guerrero, Christopher Raphael, Justin Salloum, Keron Cabralis, Kiran Maharaj and Jayson Paul will lead the T&T contingent. Taking up the challenge for Jamaica is National Masters, Brandon Wilson, Russel Porter in the Open section and Phillip Pryce and Onaje Lamont in the Junior section. Players from Barbados, Curacao, Martinique, St. Lucia and Suriname are looking forward to declaring "Checkmate" and to walking away with some of the prizes. A cash prize fund of $24,000, and trophies for the top 5 winners in each category are at stake. Trophies will be awarded to the first 10 spots in each category.

In expressing his conviction in the powers of the game, President of the T&T Chess Foundation, Edison Raphael said, "CMMB's sponsorship of the tournament is testimony to its appreciation of the value of the game of Chess in making positive changes in our people. We feel honoured to have a progressive and successful leading financial services provider (that is, CMMB) associated with our Foundation and its efforts!"

A fee of $100 for participating in the Age group sections and $300 for participating in the Open section is to be paid upon registration on 8^th August. Interested juniors and seniors should call Edison Raphael, at 678-0132 to register in the tournament.