Rich prizes in Scholastic series

The Trinidad and Tobago Chess Foundation will stage the Scholastic Chess Championships which offer $12,000 in prizes from July 7-9 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain.

The seven-round Swiss tournament will feature competition in five age groups ranging from Under-10s to Under-20s. It is mainly to determine the best junior players to represent Trinidad and Tobago at the Barbados International Junior Chess Tournament in Bridgetown, Barbados from July 14 to 18. The first two rounds of competition are on July 7 from 9 am to 3 pm followed by three rounds on the remaining days. Age group winners will receive an airfare and accommodation package to participate in the Barbados tournamentsponsored by New India Assurance Company Limited, Caribbean Money Market Brokers and Agostini Insurance Brokers. There will also be prizes of trophies, chess computers, chess sets and for places second to fifth in each age group and special prizes for the “Best Female” and Under-8 players. In addition Republic Bank will provide all fifth placed participants with $150 Right Start Account Certificates. Chess Federation President Edison Raphael says this is the largest prize package ever to be offered for a junior tournament in Trinidad and Tobago and is encouraged by the sponsors’ support. The entry fee is $25 and players are asked to call 628-8130 or 628-5158 for registration information.