GAICO Construction Chess Grand Prix set for 2022

GAICO Construction has once again kindly offered its sponsorship to the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) for the hosting of its four Grand Prix tournaments planned for 2022, the Federation has reported.

“The sum of G$500,000 was recently handed over to cover cost of prizes and administrative expenses for the hosting of these tournaments. The inaugural GAICO Grand Prix was held in 2019, and GAICO has been supporting the GCF ever since,” the Federation said.

The Grand Prix initiative, the brainchild of GCF Director Loris Nathoo, is a point-based system which will aid in the selection of the best players who will be representing Guyana at the 2022 Chess Olympiad in Moscow.

Next year’s tournaments are tentatively slated to be held in April through July. Each tournament will have seven rounds with a time control of 90 minutes and a 30 seconds increment after each move and will be overseen by FIDE arbiters John Lee and Irshad Mohamad.

“Nathoo on behalf of the GCF expresses his gratitude to Komal Singh, General Manager GAICO Construction for their generous support and look forward to their continuing partnership in the future. GAICO Construction has continued to support the initiatives of the Guyana Chess Federation and its activities which promote development and growth in the sport in all age groups,” the Federation added.

These FIDE-rated tournaments will be open to all Guyanese chess players.

Vice-President of the GCF Anand Raghunauth has lauded the initiative of GAICO Construction and expressed the need for corporate sponsorship for chess as various activities and training programms are being rolled out to enable the youth of Guyana to develop and improve their thinking and cognitive skills in the game of chess.