Chess fans and enthusiasts will have something to look forward to this weekend as the 2023 Vodafone Fiji October Rapid Chess Championship kicks start on Saturday.
According to Fiji Chess Federation general secretary Goru Arvind Provisional FIDE Master (FM) Rudr Ravi Prasad and Yash Krishen Maharaj of The University of the South Pacific currently lead the list of favorites for the tournament.
“We also have players like ex-Olympiad and Oceania Zonal reps like Candidate Master (CM) Manoj Kumar, CM Taione Sikivou, CM Ronald Terubea, Women’s Candidate Master (WCM) Gloria Sukhu who are expected to make the tournament more competitive,” he said.
Major sponsors Vodafone Fiji have heightened the tournament with a minimum prize pool of $1000 that will be allotted between the Open, Women, Primary School, and Secondary School Categories.
“This also includes additional prizes for Best Beginner that are usually awarded to any member of the public who opts to compete in a Fiji Chess Federation event for the first time and stamps a significant score.”
He says the presence of primary and secondary students is expected to make the tournament more exciting.
