Sunday, June 10, 2007

After the All Africa Games, an Open Chess Tournament will take place in YAOUNDE, CAMEROON: July 27-29, 2007


Chess Organizer, Jean-Baka Domelevo-Entfellner has just announced the details of an up coming chess tournament in Yaounde, Cameroon. The Yaounde Chess Club (YCC) is the official organizer of this double event called "The Cameroonian Masters". The tournament is expected to take place from July 27th-29th, 2007. Jean said "We're planning to invite FIDE rated players from neighbouring federations, such as Nigeria , Kenya, Zambia, Ethiopia or Mozambique. But of course, for geographical reasons, Nigerian players are the first on our list of potentially invited players".

In support of the chess tournament, Jean has spent a few days in Nairobi, Kenya and has met with a number of chess players including Ben Magana, one of the strongest players in Kenya who may be coming to Cameroon for the event. Jean also said it is highly probable that six other Kenyan players will also be at the chess tournament.

Cameroon is not a member of FIDE yet, but moves such as this will no doubt give Cameroon some exposure and the recognition necessary for other chess initiatives in the future.

Jean said they are currently discussing with the Ministry of Sports of Cameroon to have special fares and a simplified process to get visas for Chess Players outside of Cameroon.

Details of the Chess Tournament:
There will be two events:

A "Cameroonian Masters" with the strongest players, (unrated by FIDE) , since there are no Cameroonian players that are rated by FIDE yet: approx. 20 to 25 participants, and
An open Section" with about 60 players depending on the turnout.

Both will be made of seven rounds, Swiss system. 90 minutes per player for the whole game in the Masters, probably 61 minutes per player in the Open.

The Masters tournament will be a registered FIDE event. Its results will be taken into account for Fide Rating. This won't be the case for the Open.
Time Control: Fischer system with two time periods for the Masters Tournament :
1h10 + 30s/move plus 20min + 30s/move.
Accommodation: Provided in a first-class hotel for 20.000 CFA per person per day, full board, transportation to and from the venue included.

The prizes:
- in the Masters, prizes-to-be: 1st 200,000 CFA, 2nd 100,000 CFA, 3rd 50,000 CFA
- in the Open, prizes-to-be: 1st 80,000, 2nd 40,000, 3rd 25,000

Extra event: a team match "Cameroon vs. the rest of the world" can be organized and FIDE-registered. It would take place on Monday 30th and oppose two teams out of the participants, for instance the best 4 Cameroonian against the best 4 foreign players.

Contact info for the Organizing Committee in charge of the Cameroonian Masters:
Jean-Baka Domelevo-Entfellner: International relations : domelevo@gmail.com: +237 96 63 48 59 (Orange) or +237 74 72 90 90 (MTN)
YCC President, Colonel Nguele-Viang, Arbiter : +237 77 95 04 14 (MTN), also english-speaking
Pierre Makem, 1st vice-president: +237 99 59 66 27 (Orange) - Benjamin Banlock, 2nd vice-president: +237 96 32 33 49 (Orange)
Jean-Louis Palla, promoter, in charge of the marketing and press relations: +237 99 88 00 10 (Orange).
Official Website for YCC: http://ycc64.free.fr/

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