Quintin Cabralis, president T&TCA.

If they are not completely over, the money problems of the T&T Chess Association get, at least, a significant ease this year. For the first time the Association will not have to go fishing for funds to cover its various events, including the national championship and its four qualifiers. The relief comes from Pannel Kerr Foster, the firm of chartered accountants and business advisers, who has offered to sponsor the entire cycle of tournaments hosted by the Association for 2010. “We are very grateful for this gesture by PKF and we are hoping, by our administration of these events, to retain their sponsorship in future years,” says Quintin Cabralis, president of the Association.

Cabralis revealed receipt of this assistance when he spoke to Double Rooks about results of the recent retreat held by members the T&TCA executive. Closer relations, including greater accountability, between the T&T Chess Association and its member clubs, are part of the package of reforms emerging from deliberations at the retreat. The range of measures, designed to improve administration of the sport, will be submitted for discussion and approval at the association’s annual general meeting later this year. The “multi-faceted plan,” emerging from the brainstorming session, was outlined by Association president Quintin Cabralis who felt it contained the solution to several of the problems still affecting the sport.

Among its proposals, for example, is the imposition of higher standards for both men and women players with respect to Olympiad selection and the creation of a national training facility through which the need to expand the sport among T&T schools would be pursued. Manned by a head coach and his assistant, this thrust among the country’s schools would establish training standards to be applied to all these institutions. “As part of this objective, we are hoping to enlist the support of the Tobago House of Assembly in extending the sport on the island, especially among its schools,” Cabralis added. The one-day retreat, the first of its kind, was held at Cabralis’ home, Greenwil Estates, Brazil, and was attended by seven executive members. “It turned out to be an exhaustive and productive exercise,” Cabralis recalled.

Moving forward
“We are still in the process of collating the many contributions into one comprehensive record which would provide us with a mandate for moving forward.” The president pointed out that the association’s constitution would have to be amended to accommodate the reforms accepted at the AGM. In addition, Cabralis was particularly happy to announce the sponsorship received from Pannel Kerr Foster. “Thanks to the support of PKF, we will now have, for the first time, the funds we need to adequately cover the expenses of all our tournaments,” Cabralis disclosed.

“It means we have been relieved of the worry of having to seek assistance for these events from so many different sources.” “In fact,” he added, “the chess community as a whole should be grateful, as participants in these tournaments can now expect an increase in their prize structure.” The president commended FM Ryan Harper, former national champion and T&TCA second vice president, for his instrumental role in securing the PKF sponsorship. With respect to setting new standards, it would seem that the Association’s executive has heeded to some extent the recent criticism levelled by Double Rooks on the performance of T&T’s women players at the Olympiad.

The plan would now base selection on expanded criteria, namely the player’s performance and activity level, says Cabralis. No longer would the one-shot results of the Women’s National Championship tournament be the deciding factor; instead female players would now be required to play in three open tournaments approved by the Association together with the national event in order to become eligible for Olympiad selection. According to Cabralis, the intention is also to extend these requirements to the selection of the men’s team to represent the country at this premier international event. Double Rooks, however, remains sceptical about the significance of these changes as far as the women are concerned. What if the female players fail to make any impression in the three open events? What if their performance turns out to be a disincentive? Would they still be sent to represent the country at the Olympiad?

Commenting on the level of interaction between the association and its member clubs, the president said this was quite inadequate since it was confined largely to exchanges at the association’s AGM and there was no mandate for further meetings. He felt there was need for clubs to exercise greater accountability to the T&TCA and vice versa. “We respect the clubs. They have put us here to administer the sport. As a result we intend to meet with them, to bring them on board, to let them understand the benefits of their membership, the reforms we have in mind, and seek ways to enhance our relationship.” Apart from an audited copy of their accounts, clubs would be required to submit a development plan which would assist the association in its national planning.

Number of problems
“On the other hand, we want to see in the constitution measures that would ensure the elected executive report back to the clubs on a periodic basis,” Cabralis said. The measures to be contained in this “multi-faceted” plan are clearly intended to address a number of problem areas existing in the administration and practice of the royal game. Double Rooks believes they are significant, particularly because developmental action in this area has been so long in coming. Whatever advance these reforms may eventually produce in the conduct of such a socially beneficial sport must certainly be welcome.