Write a comment
Sticky Fingers Arts Centre on Edward Street are hosting a special three day international chess festival, the first of its kind in the city. The Festival runs from Friday 27 May to Sunday 29 May.
One of the highlights will see 13 year old Zara Matevosyan competing in the festival. Her family recently fled from the war in Ukraine, relocating to Newry.
Organiser Brendan Jamison, a National Arbiter with FIDE, the international chess federation, said "we are very excited to hold 4 unique events over the weekend. It started with a simultaneous match at 5pm to 6:30pm this evening, then the Newry Classic started at 7:30pm and continues all day Saturday. It sees 4 rounds of slow play chess where each player has sixty minutes each on the clock. Sunday is for speed chess fanatics with 12 rounds of blitz chess and then a 6 round bullet competition."
Mark Revels, Operations Manager at Sticky Fingers, said "we are delighted to have many local players competing from the Warrenpoint Chess Club, along with several players from Armagh, Belfast, Bangor and Ards. There are a still a few places left in some of the competitions so email newrychess@gmail.com if you are keen to play. We have players attending from age 5 up to gentlemen in their 70s."
