By Admin. Updated 8:10 p.m., Thursday, March 7, 2024, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) will clash with Grenada in a historic Bilateral Chess Classic over the national Heroes holiday.
According to a press release from the SVG Chess Federation, the inaugural Chatoyer Bilateral Invitational Chess Tournament is scheduled to take place from Wednesday 13th – Thursday 14th March 2024 at the Beachcombers Hotel Conference Room.
The tournament will begin at 10 a.m. on both days, according to the press release.
The tournament is named after our first National Hero, His Excellency Joseph Chatoyer, the press release said.
Grenadian players will travel to St. Vincent to participate in the tournament.
“The two southernmost Windward Islands will pit their chess skills as they compete for the Chatoyer Invitational Award. The Players in the age group of 8 to 15 will have the opportunity to compete against Youth Chess Players from Grenada to see which team would emerge as champion,” the press release said.
“The Grenadians are set to arrive in St Vincent and the Grenadines on March 12th and depart on March 15th, 2024, following the contest and an indulgence into the cultural festivities to mark National Heroes Day in St Vincent & the Grenadines,” the press release.
“The Grenadian contingent comprises five players (males and 2 females) in Renniel Gilbert (Captain) Jeremy Henry, Tyler Thomas, Naziyah James and Tauriel Frank. The team will be accompanied by two adults in the respective capacities of manager and Coach,” the release said.
The release said: “Team St Vincent and the Grenadines will be coached by Mr. Chinedu Enemchukwu while Mr. Brian Cottle is Team SVG’S Manager”.
“The Players from St. Vincent & the Grenadines will come from the likes of Le’mar Abbott (Captain) Vedant Shetty, Ariana Balcombe, Carlos Veira, Dantes La Primavera, [and] Alaynna Gilbert,” the release said.
“International FIDE approved Arbiter out of Barbados Mr Kelvin Daniel be the tournament’s technical officer,” the release said.
This championship is partly sponsored by the National Lotteries Authority, Bruce Law Chambers Inc. and A&A Electronics.
“An opening ceremony will take place on the 13th March 2024 at 9: 00 a.m. during which time the Honourable Minister of Public Service, Consumer Affairs, Sports and Culture, Hon. Frederick Stephenson is expected to give brief remarks as well as other members of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Chess Federation including the President, Mr. Israel R. Bruce,” the release stated.
“It is also highly anticipated that Minister Stephenson will push the first chess piece so as to commence the start of the Tournament following a brief press briefing,” the release added.
The SVG Chess Federation said the invitational championship is expected to give publicity to St. Vincent & the Grenadines as a tourism destination whilst at the same time expose the local players and spectators to an international standard competition.
The organization said another country has expressed interest in playing matches with St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
“The Dominica Chess Federation has already expressed interest in the 2024 version which will take place in St Vincent & the Grenadines annually,” the organization said.
“The next major chess ticketing item for St. Vincent and the Grenadines is the FIDE 46th Olympiad which would take place in Budapest, Hungry in September 2024. St. Vincent and the Grenadines will seek to field two national teams at the world games, an all-female team, and an Open team,” the release stated.
“Preparatory process is currently underway as the Vincy chess players to test their skills on the global stage at this their second attendance at the Olympiad,” the release said.
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