Sponsorship for II Latin American Chess Cup

(Montevideo, October 24, 2011).- Under the auspices of CAF - Latin American development bank - and organized by the Uruguayan Chess Federation, the II Latin American Chess Cup will be held November 1 through 6 in the Antel Communications Tower.

Gladis Genua, CAF director representative in Uruguay, said, with this support, the institution aims to encourage "the practice of a sports such as chess, which offers training in strategic management tools, and promotes a set of values which will be useful to children and youth throughout their professional and social lives." "CAF promotes activities in all its shareholder countries which favor social inclusion of children and young people through artistic and sports activities. In this case, our aim is to achieve this goal through chess," Genua said.

The event was also attended by the interim minister of Tourism and Sports, Liliam Kechichian; president of the Uruguayan Chess Federation, Bernardo Rosselli; director general of the Ministry of Education and Culture, Pablo Álvarez; director of the Primary Education Council, Oscar Gómez; and Esteban Jareguizar, director of the Uruguayan Chess Federation.

During the meeting, Rosselli said it was important that Montevideo had been chosen by the International Chess Federation to host a tournament which "will welcome approximately 200 participants from the three Americas."

The II Latin American Chess Cup is the most important chess event in the country’s history, interim minister of Tourism and Sport Liliam Kechichian said. "No tournament has ever been held in Uruguay with more than two or three Grand Masters; this time we will have 18," from 11 countries of America.

The opening ceremony will be held on October 31 in La Explanada of the Montevideo City Government. The event has a variety of activities, including a living chess competition, a performance of "Tocada Movida,” an Argentine band formed by four chess teachers, and simultaneous games on giant boards, among other attractions.

These activities are part of the Uruguayan Chess Federation’s plan to transform the game into a tool for social and community development, with initiatives such as "Chess in School" implemented jointly with the Primary Education Council; Corners Project promoted by the Montevideo City Government; the Pro Reason program with the Secondary Education Council; and the "Chess and Legends" software developed jointly with Plan Ceibal.