SICF to host first chess tournament this Sunday
BY RICHARD MENANOPO
The Solomon Islands Chess Federation will stage its first chess tournament for 2026 this Sunday at White River School in Honiara as part of efforts to revive and strengthen competitive chess in the country.
The tournament will also officially introduce the federation’s new executive team while bringing together both experienced and upcoming chess players from across the capital.
According to information shared by Federation President, Simon Chottu through the federation’s social media platform, the event is open to all ages and welcomes both male and female participants, including beginners, casual players, former champions and rising talents.
Registration for the tournament is set at SBD $20, with prize money also up for grabs for top-performing players.
The federation said the tournament aims to rebuild excitement around the sport while creating more opportunities for players to compete regularly.
A major highlight of the event will be the introduction of a new “Challenge Match” initiative, which will feature a special showdown between local players Junior Lui and Fred R.
The federation explained that the Challenge Match concept will now become a regular feature in future tournaments, allowing players to challenge one another in featured contests designed to build rivalries and increase interest in the sport.
“From now on, every tournament will feature a special Challenge Match where two players battle it out on the board,” the federation stated.
The federation added that players will also be given opportunities to submit their names for future featured matches following Sunday’s challenge encounter.
According to the federation, the initiative is intended to bring back strong competitive chess, encourage new talents to rise, unite old and new players, and make the game more active and entertaining for everyone involved.
The tournament will take place on Sunday 24th May at White River School and is open to all interested participants.
The Solomon Islands Chess Federation in recent years been working to rebuild local participation in chess through community-based competitions and public engagement activities that aim to attract more young people into the sport.
The federation’s slogan for the upcoming event is: “One Board. One Goal. One Champion.”
Photo credit: Solomon Islands Chess Federation/Facebook
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