The Belize District Chess Association conducted its 3rd Annual Family Chess Day this past Saturday, January 22, at St. Ignatius Primary School. The event was full of fun activities such as an Art Competition, Chess Puzzle Competition, Level 1 basic training, and for our main event a 7-minute speed chess tournament for our experienced chess players. A total of 78 chess players ranging in age from 6 to 78 years old, and coming from as far as Cayo & Orange Walk districts, played in the 7-minute speed chess tournament.

In the Under-8 category, placing 1st was Akeem Roches from Grace Primary, 2nd Cesar Escalante from Belize Elementary, 3rd Clinton Edwards from St. Ignatius Primary.

In the 9 & 10 category, placing 1st was Quinton Rodriguez from Holy Redeemer, 2nd Kyle Shal from Cayo, 3rd Kyle Rodriguez from St. Ignatius Primary, 4th Luis Zavala from Orange Walk, 5th Maury Leslie from Belize City.

In the 11 & 12 category, 1st place went to Dwayne Rodriguez from Holy Redeemer, 2nd Erwin Wills from Cayo, 3rd Brandon Usher from Hummingbird Elementary, 4th Marco Banegas and 5th Vejea Alvarez, both from St. Ignatius Primary.

In the 13 & Older category, taking 1st place was Akeem Jenkins from Cayo, 2nd Steve Flowers from St. Johns High School, 3rd Brandon Marsden from Cayo, 4th Christian Burns from Edward P. Yorke, 5th Glenford Pop from Cayo.

Six-year-old Zhair Lizama from St. Joseph Primary received an award for being the youngest chess player.

Golden Kings & Queen Chess Team playing against chess Coaches from St. Ignatius Primary School..

NEXT CHESS EVENT will be the 3rd Annual Belize District Scholastic Chess Tournament, scheduled for March 5. For more information please contact David Martinez @ 620-9315 or email davidvalle2003@msn.com.

Source: http://www.amandala.com.bz

Chess daily news from Susan Polgar

Ownership of the Belize Chess Federation (BCF) is shared by every Belizean who cares about their children’s involvement; the children who participate; the associated groups and individuals who place their quality time and effort in program designations, preparations and promotions; the media personnel and companies who proffer us their special services in item promotions free of cost; and certainly, even without having to say, by those who invest hard earned invaluable currency into our projects. All together they contribute to the development and progress of projects of the Belize Chess Federation, shaping a tool that is bringing potential young minds by the hundreds together in Belize, to sharpen their wits in a board game situation capable of affording a channel to positively and constructively vent overly gathered adrenaline in a controlled atmosphere, rather than deploying their young energies at various community sectors negatively and venomously.

One such associated group, indeed appropriately worthy of mention, is the Belize Chess Institute (BCI) members, who persisted in their aura of integrity and character to produce, promote and implement this very positive “Youth with Promise” project for and on behalf of the Belize Chess Federation, a coinage developed by Doctor Isabel Tun, head lecturer at the University of Belize; and the General Director of the BCI, Mr. Glen Reneau, a finance and economics major and civil servant, who successfully led Belize chess twice to the regional Central American Under-18 Games; and, too, along with the dedicated visionary himself, Special Constable Mr. Santos Carbajal, manager of various youth chess initiatives in Belize.

It was a five-day week of meeting with the potential future of Belize, working along with youth and profiling them to the needs of our tomorrow – chess, per se, was only a tool, giving this opportunity whereby the understanding of a related universe could be examined and prepared for in principle. Absolute fun prevailed in the learning environment. Thirty students of chess can today attest that they are more informed by the resulting learning experiences, and can also assert a more positive sense of preparedness and insight to meeting challenges.

Here is the full article.

Chess daily news from Susan Polgar