Basseterre, St. Kitts – Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Liamuiga were joined by the members of the St. Kitts and Nevis Chess Federation for Chess on Wednesday 20 July 2002, in commemoration of International Chess Day.
Dr Izben C Williams, President of the St. Kitts and Nevis Chess Federation, along with Ms P’Della’P Stanley, Director of the Secretariat and Team Manager, presented to the membership, the origins of the game, benefits and how playing what looks like an often-complicated game of characters on a checkerboard can improve mental health and productivity.
“International Chess Day 2022 is being observed under the theme ‘ Women in Chess.’ The purpose is to encourage girls and women to learn how to play chess and make it as common among women as it is among men,” noted Dr Williams.
Our National Chess Federation, endeavours to have at least fifty (50) women trained in chess in St. Kitts and Nevis over the next year and have at least fifty (50%) of Primary School children learn and play chess in a few years,” he added.
Established in 2019, the St. Kitts and Nevis Chess Federation has been gradually growing its membership. The National Team lead by Vice President and Delegation Head, Dr Dennis Merchant, will be participating in the 44th Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India from July 28 – August 10, 2022.
The interactive session also gave Rotarians the chance to learn some of the basics, the terms used, along with a few tips and tricks on to how to psyche opponents before saying the famous word, checkmate, to claim victory.
International Chess Day is celebrated annually on 20 July, the day the International Chess Federation (FIDE), which was founded, in 1924. The idea to celebrate this day as the international chess day was proposed by UNESCO, and it has been celebrated as such since 1966, after it was established by FIDE.
FIDE, which has 181 Chess Federations as its members, organizes chess events and competitions around the world on this day. In 2013, the international chess day was celebrated in 178 countries, according to FIDE, President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and on 12 December 2019, the UN General Assembly unanimously approved a resolution recognizing the day.
Picture 1 – Dr Izben C Williams, St. Kitts and Nevis Chess Federation President taking a question from Rotarians
Picture 2 – Ms P’Della’P Stanley, Secretariat Director and St. Kitts and Nevis Chess Federation Team Manager explaining the basics of the game to Rotarians
About the Rotary Club of Liamuiga
The Rotary Club of Liamuiga was started on the 10 February 2003 by the late Past District Governor (PDG), Ambassador Fred Lam, OBE. The club conforms to the highest ideals of Rotary and continues to lend an empowering hand through annual community projects and often partners with other Rotary clubs and service organizations to pool resources to carry out high impact projects that involve Youth, the Elderly, and Literacy.
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