In the weekends of 16 - 18 & 23 - 25 of October the Curacao National Chess Championship 2015 took place at the Frater Aurelio SBO. The tournament counted with participation of about 20 players varying from youth to veterans who took on the 9 round challenge for the title of local champion. Various of our club members participated as well displaying quality games. Sunday afternoon around 4:00 pm the final results were in and the prizes handed out.
Ursus van Bemmelen claimed the title for current national chess champion while former champion Fabio Mensing booked 2nd leaving Jimmy Izijk on 3rd. Medals were handed out for the top 3 players under the age of 18. All 3 medals were claimed by Chess Club Janwe's young and talented: David Pietersz on 1st, Dylan Mathilda on 2nd and Mariana Sanches on 3rd. Thanks to our national federation FEDAKO for a great tournament.

In the weekend of Thursday 8 Oct - Sunday 11 Oct a delegation of 20 players participated in Aruba Chess Challenge 2015. The tournament was held in the convention center at La Cabana Beach Resort & Casino while players stayed at Tropicana Resort & Casino which was just a short walk away. The delegation comprised of players from Chess Club Janwe, Curacao Chess Academy and Schaak Vereniging Nacho Moron who all performed pretty well throughout the 4 day chess battle against players from Aruba, Venezuela and Surinam. The youth players especially played quite some top quality games whereby they managed to take away a total of 6 prizes in the various age categories. Chess Club Janwe's talented players David Pietersz and Dylan Mathilda took away trophies for 1st and 2nd prize respectively in the U-18 group. In the U-16 group 2 medals were grabbed by Derrick Izijk of Curacao Chess Academy on 2nd place and Chess Club Janwe's own, Timothy Carolina on 3rd. Two other young talented players from Curacao Chess Academy were also able to book 2 medals. Xavier Werleman booked 2nd place in the U-10 group while Aviandrie Castablanc booked 3rd in the U-8 group. As for the open group current national champion Fabio Mensing of Schaak Vereninging Nach Moron placed 5th.

Special thanks goes out to the Curacao Chess Federation (FEDAKO) for their tremendous support in enabling a pretty large group of youngsters to participate in the Aruba Chess Challenge 2015.