Interest grows in chess, kids compete this weekend
As I speak Belizean parents are making the rounds of local shops looking for just the right toy to brighten their children’s Christmas. But before you reach for that Barbie, Dora, or G.I. Joe, you may want to consider a gift that will still be around long after the others are discarded … like a chess set. News Five’s Kendra Griffith explains.
Kendra Griffith, Reporting
Last year over forty children competed in the first ever Children Chess Extravaganza … and according to tournament director Glen Reneau, 2007 promises an even better showing.
Glen Reneau, Tournament Director
“For one thing, we have much more participants registered to play. We have participants from as far as Independence, Cayo, Orange Walk, San Pedro, and in the Belize District, so we are expecting quite a bit of excitement amongst the players.”
So far sixty-four players, age five to sixteen, are scheduled to compete in the two-day event to be held at the Belize Elementary Auditorium this weekend. Reneau is thrilled that with the assistance of other chess aficionados the ancient game of strategy he has been championing for over a decade is finally catching on.
Glen Reneau
“We have Mrs. Ella Anderson from the Caves Branch area who has been pushing chess a lot in that area and I have been pushing in the Belize District. As a matter of fact, I have been going all over the country pushing chess. We have noticed a lot of district activities going on, in Dangriga particularly, quite a strong resurgence of chess is going on right now.”
Ella Baron Anderson (September 6, 2007)
“It’s such a small country that if I will put enough of my energy and if I will find enough people who will be as passionate about chess as I am, who will understand all the benefits that the chess brings, we will be able to turn the whole new generation of kids into chess players.”
Earlier this year, sixteen children from the Stann Creek District attended a Chess Camp held by Anderson and at least six of them are expected to participate in this weekend’s competition.
Glen Reneau
“The students will be playing with clocks in two categories, the fourteen year old and the sixteen year old categories will be playing with the chess clocks. The ones in the eight, ten and twelve will not be using the chess clocks, so they will just be playing and having fun because primarily chess is supposed to be fun.”
In addition to the benefits of concentration, memory, and analytical skills that are gained from playing chess, the gamers will be competing for prizes and medals in a number of categories as well as for the opportunity to represent Belize beyond the border.
Glen Reneau
“We are expecting that at the end of the competition we will be able to select students who will be able to represent us internationally because every month we have been receiving invitations to participate in regional and Caribbean events. Like earlier this year we were able to—we took some students to Guatemala to represent in the CODICADER games and those children came from the last Children’s Chess Extravaganza.”
“We are extending an invitation to all Belizeans to come out see the kids playing and see what we have been doing with our kids in that area.
Opening ceremonies for the Children Chess Extravaganza will be held at eight on Saturday morning, with the competition set to get underway at nine. Kendra Griffith reporting for News Five.
According to Reneau, registration for the Children Chess Extravaganza will remain open until the start of the competition. There is no charge to register or to enter the Belize Elementary Auditorium to cheer for your favourite player.
