Talks ongoing to construct chess facility – GCF President Raghunauth

The Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) has disclosed that plans are ongoing to construct a chess facility that will ease the challenges of hosting tournaments and provide a safe space for chess players to develop.
Information relating to the location and capacity of the facility was unavailable as the President of the Guyana Chess Federation Anand Raghunauth confirmed for Guyana Times Sports that talks concerning the design and capacity of the building will be conducted on Friday.
The President, while speaking in an exclusive interview with this publication, emphasised the impact that the facility would have, with the ability to bring the chess-playing community back together.

Raghunauth said, “It will be very impactful, because chess does not have a home at the moment. When we are playing tournaments, we always have to be looking for a venue. When people want to play at any time, they cannot meet and play as they would feel comfortable. They only meet at tournaments. We presently have chess clubs for children at the School of the Nations on Saturdays. We have some additional training for adults at Java Cafes. There is a strong pull for playing at will and that facility will bring that chess-playing community back together.”
President Dr Irfaan Ali, at the commencement of the President’s Cup Independence Day Chess Tournament at State House, disclosed his vision of chess being played throughout the country, and GCF President Raghunauth indicated that currently there were chess teachers in schools to develop players.

“At the moment, we have teachers in schools teaching chess. They are employed under the Ministry of Education Allied Arts Programme. They are getting more young people accessing the game. As people learn the game, you would see them wanting places to play.
“We are building it from the ground up. Over the years, there has been lots of input into getting chess up and running. Facilities are always an issue, but also the number of people interested in the game who can play the game. That also will lead to development. By widening the base, it would lead to the development of the entire chess community.”
The President also disclosed that next week there would be a distribution of 500 chess sets to players to make personal development easier with their chess set. (Omar Mckenzie)