1st VMOBILE ULTIMATE CHESS CHALLENGE

RE: INVITATION TO THE 1ST ULTIMATE CHESS CHALLENGE.
Sent: Monday, August 15, 2005 12:00 AM

Dear Chess friend,
This is to invite you to participate in the 1st Vmobile Ultimate Chess Challenge taking place at Goldengate Restaurant, Kingsway Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria from the 12th to the 21st September, 2005. The tournament regulations as well as the Registration Form are separately attached for your online registration.

Ultimate Chess


REACTION TO THE TOURNAMENT INVITATION ABOVE:

The 1st Vmobile Ultimate Chess Challenge tournament qualifies under Fide rules as a TOP-LEVEL TOURNAMENT. The invitation is as complete as possible, stating clearly the expected conditions and giving all details that can be of use to the players in accordance with section 01:1.2 of FIDE HANDBOOK. Obviously, a lot of work must have gone into the preparations for this chess event and we thank the organizers for a job well done.

However, there is one simple thing we would like to point out which should be noted for the 2nd Vmobile Ultimate Chess Challenge or any other top level tournament in Nigeria for that matter if we want more people from outside the country and even within Nigeria to participate FULLY.

While the planning for this tournament must have been on for quite a while, the formal invitation to the tournament as presented above was done on August 15th 2005, giving less than a month preparation time for those outside Nigeria to make the necessary arrangements to attend. Some players have told me they would have loved to have more time to make arrangements to attend the tournament.

What arrangements?

1.Family Arrangements - Every one of us know what it is to make family arrangements before a major trip.
2.Job Arrangements -Most Chess players work. There is a need to take excuses well in advance from most jobs if you do not want to get fired.
3.Financial Arrangements- Most chess players need time to come up with funds to travel.
4. Emotional preparations for a tournament: Getting ready to participate and play well in a big chess tournament takes time. It takes lots of chess practice and mental preparations (at least 3-6 months).

Futhermore, the above observations is well grounded in the Recomendations for the organization of Top-level Tournaments in the FIDE HANDBOOK, sections 01:1.1 as approved by 1983 General Assembly. Amended by 1991 and 1992 General Assemblies below:

FIDE HANDBOOK:
01. Recommendations for Organization of Top-level Tournaments :

1. Invitation 1.1 Invitations should be sent out well in advance, preferably half a year before the event takes place.

Please, let the organizers of chess tournaments take this into consideration for future chess tournaments.

Having pointed this out, WE ENCOURAGE ALL CHESS PLAYERS TO GO AND PARTICIPATE IN THIS GREAT CHESS EVENT. WE THANK ULTIMATE CHESS FOR ORGANIZING THIS TOURNAMENT FOR OUR CHESS PLAYERS.

HAVE A NICE TOURNAMENT.

Kunle Elegbede.
Houston, Texas.