Junior Orange Bowl Chess Championship Open for Registration

Paula Sarmiento (ECU) and Gabriel Lee (USA) play Grand Master Gildardo Garcia

(CORAL GABLES, FL, AUG 2011) – Registration is now open to participate in the 13^th Junior Orange Bowl International Scholastic Chess Championship. This youth tournament is taking place on December 27-29, 2011 at the Embassy Suites Hotel Miami International Airport. Chess players must be ages 18 & under and even children as young as four years old have participated in this international tournament. Players do not need to be ranked within the United States Chess Federation’s (USCF) rating system, but all entrants must hold an active membership with the USCF.

The Junior Orange Bowl International Scholastic Chess Championship is comprised of local, national, and international participants; bringing people together from all over the world. For many young chess players, the Championship is the perfect opportunity to not only sharpen their mental skills, but also test their abilities against players from all different backgrounds and nationalities.

“Chess is much more than a game as it develops important life skills such as patience, planning, and strategy. The Junior Orange Bowl International Scholastic Chess Championship is the perfect opportunity for youths to continue to develop these skills, while having fun at the same time,” said Tiffany Kennedy, chairperson of the Championship.

The three-day long event will consist of multiple rounds of play which will include variations of traditional chess, such as blitz and bughouse chess. In Blitz chess, each side has less than 15 minutes to make their move (as opposed to the traditional 1-3 hours a player is usually allotted). Bughouse chess consists of two teams competing on multiple chess boards simultaneously. The top five teams and top ten individuals per division are awarded trophies and all participants and coaches will receive commemorative medals.

To register for the tournament, visit www.jrorangebowl.com/chessto download the entry form. Entrants are required to pay a fee of $50 per person or $160 for a group of four. If you require hotel accommodations, contact the Embassy Suites Hotel at 1-800-362-2779 and mention “Junior Orange Bowl” for special rates.

If you have any additional questions or are interested in being a sponsor, please contact Tiffany Kennedy at (305) 662-1210 or e-mail chess@jrorangebowl.com.

The Junior Orange Bowl Festival is possible with the support of the City of Coral Gables, Miami Children’s Hospital, The Orange Bowl Committee, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Tourist Development Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor, and Board of County Commissioners. The Junior Orange Bowl Committee, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that serves the community of South Florida and the Youth of the world by providing opportunities for wholesome, competitive and multi-cultural experiences. For more information on the Junior Orange Bowl Committee, please call 305-662-1210 or visit our website at www.jrorangebowl.org.