Chess is the sport of the mentally gifted and some great intellects were on display recently at Javea’s chess tournament. The competition was divided into four age groups: under 12s, under 14s, under 16s and adults, and with prize money and trophies on offer, a strongly competitive atmosphere prevailed.
As with all sports, an early start is a distinct advantage and the younger players showed that they had the brains and the consistency to become future grandmasters. The after-school chess club has long been a popular feature of high schools all over the world and it is quite obvious that Spain is more than holding its own when it comes to producing the champions of the future in this most mentally demanding of pastimes. It might seem a gentle sport, but look at the faces of these serious young chess players and you will see a will to win, which most footballers would do well to emulate.
At the end of the tournament the winners were announced: first place went to Spain’s Marco Antonio Fernandez, while Colombia’s Alexander Peña claimed the runner-up spot and Argentinean Nestor Echeverria finished in third place.
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