Chess competition set Saturday at City Centre

On Saturday, chess players will participate in the first ever international tournament. Chief Tournament Director of the Belize Chess Federation, Glen Reneau says “Candidate Games” is designed to take the sport to another level.

Glen Reneau, Chief Tournament Director, Belize Chess Federation
“Belizean chess players for the first time will receive an international rating. An international rating is a numerical strength of your playing involvement with the games relative to another player. So for the first time Belizeans will get that opportunity to play against international rated players and will be awarded a rating.”

Marion Ali
“Do you think our players can hold up against the international players?”

Glen Reneau
“Certainly, certainly, we have international material. As a matter of fact we have a few of our players internationally who are studying other events but are chess players who are playing against chess masters.”

“Candidate Games” begin at eight tomorrow morning at the Belize City Centre’s conference room and will continue for the next three weekends. So far thirty-five local players have signed up, the youngest being nine years old. Following the competition, the six top players will take on international masters scheduled to arrive in the country later this year. Entrance to the tournament is free of cost to the public.