Bangkok--Mar 10--SET
SET Joins SETTRADE and Thai Investors Association to Find New Chess Wizard at the “Thai Chess Championship 2005” Where Over THB500,000 Worth of Prizes is at Stake
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) joins SETTRADE.Com and the Thai Investors Association (TIA) in the second year of the Thai chess competition by inviting 7 levels of chess players, from primary school to adults, to battle for the top spots. We are in search of the player who will become the new chess wizard, since “Sian Pong” Suchart Chaivicha, the reigning champion, relinquished his throne. The race starts April 23 and runs until May 14, 2005, at SET Building.
Mr. Kittiratt Na-Ranong, the SET President, revealed that, after the SET organized the “Thai Chess Championship 2004” during the school break in April, 2004, and the Thai Youth Chess Championship last October, the events have attracted a great deal of interest from both chess enthusiasts and young players alike. This interest was especially strong among Thailand’s best chess players, who found themselves on an open stage to contest for the title of “the chess wizard”.
“In a move to eternally preserve Thai sports and to encourage Thai youths to spend their free time constructively, the SET, Settrade.com and the Thai Investors Association have agreed to open the ‘Thai Chess Championship 2005’ by turning the SET Building into a venue for youths and all others interested in chess, from the elementary level to the general public. The contest will be held from April 23 to May 15. Applications will be accepted from now until April 20. It is expected that the event will attract a lot of attention and it is worth keeping an eye on who will be the next chess wizard after ‘Sian Pong’ Suchart Chaivicha, the previous champion, bid his farewell to the arena.
“The highlights of this year’s awards will include a CD containing the journeys taken by the 8 contestants of the Open level on their way to becoming the best of Thailand’s chess players, as well as the story of the top chess wizard from the ‘Thai Chess Championship 2004’. A book will also be offered which will tell you all you need to know about Thai chess. This book is being published for the first time with the help of Thailand’s chess wizards”, said Mr. Kittiratt.
Mrs. Chanisa Chutipat, CEO of SETTRADE.com, said that, apart from an attempt to promote musical activities at its “SETTRADE Youth Musical Challenge”, SETTRADE will also encourage Thai youths to know more about Thai chess and spend their time during the school break more constructively.
“This time, SETTRADE will be providing shirts for contestants and cash prizes for the winners of the tertiary, the Open and the Top levels, along with trophies. This year’s competition will be broadcast on the website www.thaibg.com, just like last April”, said SETTRADE.com’s CEO.
Mr. Montri Tirakhothai, President of the TIA, said that this year, the Association has decided to be part of the move to provide various summer activities for students of all levels, and one of them is the “Thai Chess Championship 2005”. The TIA will provide cash prizes for the winners of the elementary and the high school levels. The Association now invites all students, as well as members of the public, to take part in the “Thai Chess Championship 2005”, which is expected to be another important chapter in Thai chess history.
The competition is open to 7 levels of competitors, with the first 4 levels reserved for Thailand’s youth as follows,
1) Primary elementary level, for youths not more than 10 years of age.
2) Senior elementary level, for those not more than 12 years old. The race for this level will be on April 25-26
3) Junior high school level, for youths not more than 16.
4) Senior high school level, for those not more than 19. The race for this level is scheduled for April 27-28.
The winners of all these 4 levels will each receive a THB5,000 cash prize and a trophy.
5) Tertiary level, for young adult university students not more than 25 years old. The race for this level is scheduled for May 3-4 for the top prize of THB10,000 cash and a trophy.
6) Open level; for members of the general public, regardless of age. The race for this level will be on April 23 to May 7 (7 days, only on weekends and public holidays) for the top prize of THB50,000 cash and a trophy.
For the Top level, the competition is open to only the top 4 winners of this year’s race, who will compete against last year’s top 4 winners for the top prize of THB100,000 cash and a trophy. At the moment, there are 2 top-ranked players on the books, Mr. Boonsueb Sae-Haeng (“Sian Waeng”) and Mr. Nakorn Trisa-ard. The race will run from May 8 to 15 (only on weekends).
It is believed that there will be quite a number of young and general chess players participating in this year’s competition. Last year’s competition attracted 729 contestants from around the country. The number of this year’s contestants may be even higher, considering the flood of callers since the news was released. Those interested in watching the games can do so at “Krua Rim Rua” (“Kitchen by the Fence”) at the SET building on Rajadapisek Road (next to the Queen Sirikit Convention Center) or log on www.thaibg.com for the live broadcast.
Interested contestants can apply free of charge either by telephone at 0 2229 2219-20, or in person at the SET Building daily until April 20, between 9am and 6pm (except April 13-15).
Details of the ‘Thai Chess Competition 2005’ and Prizes
The competition will be divided into 7 categories:
1. Junior Primary School Championship
2. Senior Primary School Championship
3. Junior High School Championship
4. Senior High School Championship
5. Tertiary Education Championship
6. Open Championship
7. Chess Wizard Championship for the country’s past top four champions and the top four champions of the Open category
Prizes for each category include:
Primary school, junior high school, and senior high school categories
Winner 5,000 baht cash prize and trophy
2nd place winner 3,000 baht cash prize with award plaque
3rd place winner 2,000 baht cash prize with award plaque
4th to 10th place winners 500 baht cash prize with certificate
Tertiary education level
Winner 10,000 baht cash prize and trophy
2nd place winner 5000 baht cash prize with award plaque
3rd place winner 3,000 baht cash prize with award plaque
4th to 10th place winners 1,000 baht cash prize with certificate
Open category
Winner 50,000 baht cash prize and trophy
2nd place winner 30,000 baht cash prize with award plaque
3rd place winner 20,000 baht cash prize with award plaque
4th place winners 10,000 baht cash prize with award plaque
5th — 8th place winners 3,000 baht cash prize with certificate
9th — 16th place winners 1,500 baht cash prize
17th — 32nd place winners 1,000 baht cash prize
Chess Wizard
Winner 100,000 baht cash prize and trophy
2nd place winner 60,000 baht cash prize with award plaque
3rd place winner 50,000 baht cash prize with award plaque
4th place winner 30,000 baht cash prize with certificate
For more information,
please contact the Corporate Communication Dept.:
Ladawan Kantawong Tel: 0-2229-2036 /
Kulvida Jintakawong Tel: 0-2229-2037
Nattaporn Boonprapa Tel: 0-2229-2049 /
Watsamon Saowakhonsathien Tel: 0-2229-2797 End.