East Cayo Chess

Chess is an adventure!

2010-04-11T20:39:00.000-07:00

Yes, indeed, chess players must be courages and adventurous, and that is exactly what you can see on those pictures: 11 players from East Cayo went on the great adventure into the depth of the Footprint Cave:

I have to tell you, I was so impressed to see how well kids work together- it was just amazing to see all the teamwork during tubing, and going through the caves in the darkness.

After the trip, we had lunch at caves branch lodge, played chess and then had more fun time in the pool. During the easter school break kids worked hard on preparation for the Olympiad, and that was a well deserved trip for them. Play chess and have fun!

All Cayo Competition March 14, 2009

2009-03-19T09:49:00.001-07:00

This team will represent Cayo District at the up-coming Chess Olympiad on April 25th, 2009.

Winners from the East and West Cayo tournaments met at the final “All Cayo District” tournament to determine the players who will represent Cayo district at the 2nd National Chess Olympiad on Saturday, April 25th, 2009. There were 36 players representing the following schools: Belize Christian Academy, primary and HS division, Belmopan Comprehensive School, Bishop Martin, Bueno Vista, United Evergreen, San Martin, Our Lady of Guadeloupe, Ontario, Santa Elena, St Andrews, St Barnabas and Succotz. Congratulations to all the participants!Between the rounds, players were engaged in solving puzzles, practicing with each other, as well as being coached. All the players had access to the additional instruction provided by 3 of the community chess coach volunteers, who assisted all the players regardless of which club they belonged.
This event was run by the Belize National Youth Chess Foundation staff and community volunteers: parents, teachers, Caves Branch guides and Peace Corps volunteers.

All Cayo Chess Tournament Results:

8 years old and under
1st place: Gabirel Cocom, 6 years old, United Evergreen School, 2nd place: Jeremy Chiang, 8 years old, Belize Christian Academy, 3rd place: Jaheed Palacio, 8 years old, Our Lady of Guadeloupe
9 and 10 years old
1st place: Joshua Chiang, Belize Christian Academy, 2nd place: Brent Coombs, Bishop Martin , 3rd place: Eric Lee, St Andrews. For the Chess Olympiad, Richard Beane(4th place) will take place of Eric Lee, who will be out of the country.
11 and 12 years old:
1st place: Jamir Sanchez, Bishop Martin, 2nd place: Cesar Gonzales, St Barnabas, 3rd place: Gareth Martinez, St Barnabas
13 and older
1st place: Akeem Jenkins, United Evergreen, 2nd place: Clifford Coleman, Ontario, 3rd place: Said Awe, St BarnabasFemale best players:
1st place: Amani Coombs, Belize Christian Academy HS, 2nd place: Maricella Cocom, Belmopan Comprehensive School, 3rd place: Elida Frutos, St BarnabasBianca Sanchez and Lucienne Bacab will be joining the Girls-only team for the Olympiad, while Maricella Cocom, will be part of the high school team.

Special acknowledgement is given to the families of Cocom, Palacio, Coombs and Chacon for their exceptional efforts in promoting family and community chess and their participation in all Cayo chess events.

Belmopan club

2008-12-20T13:40:00.001-08:00

Every Tuesday and Wednesday: 4:00-5:30 at George Price Center, Belmopan

Christmas celebration at the club:

After having our regular chess club we sang together with Santa special chess song written by our friend, New York City coach, Nathan Goldberg:
sing along on the tune of 12 days of Christmas..

12 Days of Chess Class

On the first day of chess class my teacher taught to me
The names of the pieces and squares
On the second day of chess class my teacher taught to me
Always show respect
On the third day of chess class my teacher taught to me
Think every turn
On the fourth day of chess class my teacher taught to me
Piece moves and captures
On the fifth day of chess class my teacher taught to me
Checking the King
On the sixth day of chess class my teacher taught to me
Illegal moves
On the seventh day of chess class my teacher taught to me
Checkmate is winning
On the eighth day of chess class my teacher taught to me
Castle and develop
On the ninth day of chess class my teacher taught to me
Five ways to draw games
On the tenth day of chess class my teacher taught to me
Teamwork and tactics
On the eleventh day of chess class my teacher taught to me
All kinds of checkmates
On the twelfth day of chess class my teacher taught to me
Pawns in the endgame
© December 2001, Nathan J. Goldberg

Then Santa gave out the presents ... His assistants - elves,Vilda and Enrico, residing in New York city,made sure that there were enough of fun presents for everybody....Thank you, elves, we hope you will visit us in Belize!

Santa also received some of the holiday chess drawings from kids:
which were illustrating another holiday poem (by Nathan Goldberg):

CHESSBOARD DREAM

Last night I had a chessboard dream,
where things were not the way they seemed.
When rain or snow fell in the air,
no drops or crystals – they were square!
The skies and oceans weren’t blue,
just black and white and square-shaped, too.
And pieces fell from chess piece trees,
instead of fruits or seeds or leaves.
The sunrise made the world look white,
the sunset made it black at night.

When I woke up my dream was gone,
and I was back where I belong.
The pieces sitting in a box,
The only sounds were ticking clocks,
A chessboard blanket on my bed,
A pillow underneath my head.
I sat up and began to play,The perfect way to start my day!

Celebrating CHESS Halloween

Coaches are involved not only in supervising children on the day like that, but in having fun as well:

we made chess Halloween pieces...
..sweet Halloween castles... had Halloween chess drawing contest...

solved puzzles like this one: 10 kings chess puzzle- in one move checkmate all 10 kings....excellent tactical puzzle

advanced group players with one of the coaches are working on solving that puzzle:
We also were making chess boards out of paper..
drew more pieces for the Halloween chess game:

more chess boards... it fun to make, but not as easy at it seems- students are helping each other to make it right

masks making table...

In the end of the club we player SUPER Halloween CHess Game-chess pieces are randomly set up on the board and each teams goal is to checkmate at least one of the opponents' kings.