Vitamalt, distributed by Burns House Ltd and DFS, sponsored two Bahamas Chess Federation events this September.
The first tournament, the Vitamalt Classic, was held at C. C. Sweeting Senior High School on September 6, as an annual back-to-school event. Out of field comprising mostly chess juniors, the winner was leroy MacLean, a former Bahamas Champion.
Runner up was Le Roi Thompson, who has just won the FINCO Bahamas Junior Championship two weeks before. He also scored four wins in the four rounds, a score shared by the top five players. First placed MacLean won the tie break by winning over opponents with higher ratings.
Ken Gibson finished third along with Elton Joseph (4th) and Clive Stuart (5th), who is a teacher and chess coach at C.H. Reeves.
For the second sponsored event on Saturday, September 13th, Vitamalt held the first annual blitz exhibition in Rawson Square. Blitz chess is one of the game’s most challenging and exciting formats producing rapid, even frantic play when players drift into the frequent time scrambles.
Donned in Vitamalt T-shirts, and sipping the vitamin-loaded brew under a tent, some 20 players competed in a round robin of 19 games, each lasting a maximum 10 minutes.
“For each player to only have five minutes to play their moves gets the blood pumping,” said Tournament Director Warren Seymour. “It was a lot of fun, especially since the Federation is again awarding cash prizes.”
Federation President Thierry Boeuf said the Federation’s Board of Directors voted on September 7 that all supported chess tournaments will now have $100 minimum first prize for the top senior, $50 or equivalent for the top-scoring junior, and $50 or equivalent for the game with the ‘biggest upset’.
“Our members have told us that these more tangible incentives will entice more seniors and juniors to try chess out and to play more regularly. The Board has announced minimum prizes, but they could be a lot more if we see greater turnouts,” said Boeuf.
Federation Vice-President Warren Seymour added: “Traditionally, when awarding prizes the Federation spreads the prize money among the top scorers, through the field, so long as the event has outside financial support. So quite a few of the top-finishers can receive cash prizes.”
Besides the two events in September Vitamalt will be sponsoring a team to send selected juniors to play at the Florida International Chess Orangebowl. Held over three days at the Embassy Suites (Miami Airport) after Christmas, the event gives valuable and inspiring exposure to young Bahamians who are interested in excelling at chess, according to chief chaperone Warren Seymour. Juniors can watch and meet International Masters and even Grandmasters at adjoining tournaments, said Seymour.
Vitamalt Brand Manager Dewitt Farrington, says the company’s support is a great way to say thank you to the Bahamas and to encourage The Bahamas’ participation in the world’s greatest mental sport.
On Saturday September 27 are the final three rounds of the Bank of The Bahamas International’s Fall Classic, a long-game event which decides who will play in the Bahamas National Chess Championships held on every weekend between November 1 and 23.
