Hello Chess Friends:

The Jamaican Ambassadors Chess Academy recently became affiliated to the United States Chess Federation (USCF), and plans to hold a monthly USCF rated Masters & Candidate Masters (MCM) Invitational tournaments. The first of our MCM Invitational will be held on December 17-19.

These MCM tournaments are eight (8) players Round Robin at 30/60 + G/15, and are open only to USCF members. These events are designed primarily to increase the number of National Masters (NM) and FIDE rated players in Jamaica, and to facilitate the advancement of the serious chess player. Games played in these closed events will be rated by the USCF who in turn submits their events to FIDE to be rated where there are FIDE rated players involved.

Also, by becoming a member of the USCF, players will receive the colorful and informative monthly USCF publication, Chess Life mailed to you here in Jamaica. You will also be eligible for many other incentives from the USCF, including but not limited to Internet access to Chess Live, discount on books, chess equipment, lower fees to tournaments in the USA, and discounted entry fee at JACA's tournaments.

The schedule for our December USCF rated MCM Invitational is:

Round 1, Friday, December 17, 7:30 pm
Round 2, Saturday, December 18, 9:00 am
Round 3, Saturday, December 18 12:00 Noon
Round 4, Saturday, December 18, 3:00 pm
Round 5, Sunday, December 19, 9:00 am
Round 6, Sunday, December 19, 12:00 Noon
Round 7, Sunday, December 19, 3:00 pm

The venue is JACA headquarters, 1 Zephyr Road, Bournemouth Gardens, Kingston 2, and the entry fee is $2,000 per player. The prizes are:

1st. $8,000
2nd. $4,000
3rd. $2,000

These events are not profit making ventures, but until sponsorship of these events are obtained, JACA retains $2,000 from the entry fees for operational expenses.

The players invited to the December MCM Invitational are:

FM Warren Elliott, NM Shane Matthews, NM Mark Smith, NM Malaku Lorne, NM Russel Porter, NM Duane Rowe, NM Geoffrey Byfield, NM John Powell, NM Robert Wheeler, NM Jomo Pitterson, Equitable Brown, Humphrey Gayle, Bertram Scott, Brandon Wilson, Adrian Palmer, Obi Ikeako, Peter Myers, Daren, Wisdom, Alain Morais, Deborah Richards, Mark Henry, Ian Wilkinson, Mark Bowen, and Andrew Mellace.

Entry closes on Friday, December 10 at 7:00 pm, and the eight (8) participants will be the first eight (8) players to submit their entry fee plus proof of USCF membership or entry fee and check or money order addressed to the USCF for membership. You can contact UCSF directly @ JOIN/RENEW.

Please also be reminded that our Kingston & St. Andrew Amateur Chess Championship (U-2200) is still on for December 4-5 at the Lucky Charm Sports Club, 26 Giltress Street in Rollington Town. A prize fund of $25,000 is projected, based upon anticipated entries.

Yours, etc.,


Bertram A. Scott, Director
Jamaican Ambassadors Chess Academy