Several top chess teams and many more will be in action in the unique new format, The St Jago Chess Open, which will be held at St Jago High School grounds on July 2-3.

The new format will allow chess players the option of registering individually or in teams of three. While in a team a player will still be able to compete individually.

The tournament, approved by the Jamaica Chess Federation, will be an internationally rated event with four sections: The Ravensworth Elite Unit, The St Jago Open Unit, The St Jago Intermediate Unit and the St Jago Amateur Unit. The strongest players in the island are expected to turn out for the Ravensworth Elite Unit and the quality of chess to be played will be rivalled only by Jamaican National Championship that is to be staged in the summer.

players

The Ravensworth Elite Unit should attract players like Shane Mathews - Fide Master [FM] and many-time national Champion, Jomo Pitterson - international master [IM] and many-time national champion, Warren Elliot - FM and current national champion, Deborah Richards - women's FM, Mikhail Solomon - NM, Peter Myers - national master [NM], Mark Holness - candidate master, Geoffrey Byfield - NM and many others.

There will be cash prizes for all the Units and other sectional prizes catering for players eight years old and up. Some of the categories that will have prizes are The Best High School Team, The Best Team, The Best Female Team, The Best Team from a Prep or Primary School. Registration for this tournament is now open.

A number of sponsors have come on board to help the recently launched St Jago Chess Academy make the event possible. Sponsors include Singer, Island Grill, NCB, Western Union, Young's Supermarket - Spanish Town, JMMB, The Gleaner Company, Sangster's, Nuff Talk, Tiano Tours, Pepsi, Sunshine Snacks and many others. These sponsors, along with individuals, are helping to offset equipment cost and the prize fund which is in excess of $150,000.