March 07, 2018

Riba e dianan Diabierne 16 te/cu Dialuna 19 di Maart, Federacion di Ahedres Aruba (FAA) ta organisa e torneo tradicional Copa Himno y Bandera. E torneo aki ta cay bou di e torneonan di fin di siman (torneo nacional) cual ta conta pa rating y tambe pa puntonan di FAA.

E Copa Himno y Bandera 2018 lo ser hunga den nos clubhouse di FAA cual ta situa na Nieuwstraat 11, Oranjestad.

Lo tin 3 diferente categoria: Open, U-18 y U-12. Inscripcion pa e torneo aki lo tuma lugar riba diamars 13 di Maart 2018 entre 7.00 – 9.00 pm den nos clubhouse di FAA. Inscripcion pa miembronan di FAA ta Afl. 10,= pa e categorianan U-12 y U-18, mientras cu miembronan cu lo hunga den e categoria Open lo mester paga Afl. 15,=

Esnan cu no ta miembro y kier participa den un dje tres categorianan, lo mester paga Afl. 25,= 

Por registra tambe via email na email-adres octavio@setarnet.aw

E categoria di U-12 lo ser hunga riba dialuna dia 19 di Maart y e torneo lo consisti di 7 buelta. Pa wega cada hungador ta haya 15 minuut. Prome buelta lo cuminsa pa 10.00 am y e ultimo buelta lo ser hunga di 2.00-2.30 pm, mientras cu entregamento di premio lo tuma lugar entre 2.30-3.00 pm. Lo tin trofeo pa e prome tres lugarnan di e hungadornan masculino y trofeo pa e prome tres lugarnan di e hungadornan femenino. Pa e best U-10 y Best U-8, lo tin un medaya.

E categorianan Open y U-18 lo ser hunga riba diabierna 16, diasabra 17 y diadomingo 18 di Maart proximo y lo hunga un total di 5 buelta. Pa wega cada hungador ta haya 1 ora y 15 minuut y lo haya un ‘incrementing time’ di 30 seconde pa movida.

E prome rond lo ser hunga diabierne  8.00-11.30 pm. Diasabra lo hunga buelta no. 2 di 3.00-6.30 pm y buelta no. 3 di 7.00-11.30 pm. Diadomingo lo hunga rond 4 di 10.00 – 1.30 pm y rond 5 y ultimo buelta lo ser hunga di 2.00-5.30 pm. Entregamento di premio ta planea pa tuma lugar entre 5.30-6.00 pm.

Pa Categoria di U-18 lo tin 3 trofeo pa e prome 3 lugarnan, mientras cu lo tin un medaya pa e mihor hungador di e categorianan inoficial U-16 y U-14. Den Open e prome tres lugarnan lo gana trofeo.

Federacion di Ahedres Aruba kier a invita tur su miembronan y interesadonan pa bin hunga y/of bishita Copa Himno y Bandera 2018 na su clubhouse durante e dianan 16, 17, 18 y 19 di Maart proximo. Alabes FAA kier a gradici Stichting Sport Subsidie Aruba/Lotto pa Deporte pa nan aporte financiero cu ta haci e torneo aki posibel.

February 09, 2018

Last year we developed a plan to get more children in Aruba to play chess. We believe that the majority of children are still not acquainted with this sport, even though it has been scientifically proven to have a positive effect on the cognitive abilities as well as the social and emotional well-being of children.

Therefore, we have come up with a plan to make chess more easily accessible.

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We are currently working out the plan in more detail, and hope to be able to start this project in April 2018.

We hope that all children between the age of 6 and 12 years will join us in this project.

More information on this subject will follow soon.

September 10, 2017

Day                   Time                                              Group
Monday            4:00 pm - 6:00 pm                    B (Intermediate)
Monday            7:00 pm - 9:00 pm                     A (Advanced)
Tuesday            4:00 pm - 6:00 pm                    Train the trainer
Wednesday      4:00 pm - 6:00 pm                     C (Beginners)
Wednesday      7:00 pm - 9:00 pm                      A (Advanced)
Thursday          4:00 pm - 6:00 pm                     Train the trainer
Friday                4:00 pm - 6:00 pm                     B (Intermediate)
Friday                7:00 pm - 9:00 pm                     Train the trainer
Saturday           10:00 am - 12:00 pm                  C (Beginners)
Saturday           12:30 pm - 2:30 pm                    B (Intermediate)
Saturday           6:00 pm - 10:00 pm                   A (Advanced)

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For more information you can contact Octavio Croes (594-5590) or Jose Pesqueira (563-0212) or Randy Tromp (561-7037).

The fee for this period will be AFl. 40.

Place: Nieuwstraat 11, Oranjestad

September 01, 2017

The International Master (IM) Jose Sequera will be back in Aruba in September 2017.

As known mr. Sequera has more than 20 years of experience in chess training. Last time the children enjoyed his lessons.

Everyone that wants to play chess is welcome in the club building at Nieuwstraat 11. Training will be given 2-3 times a week (2 hours each) from September 20, 2017 till October 17, 2017. The contribution for this period is stipulated on AFl. 40.

For more information  or registration, you can send a mail (ocroes@hotmail.com) or call 594-5590.

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August 12, 2017

This year we are celebrating our 71th anniversary with our traditional international chess tournament on October 5, 6, 7 and 8. We hereby invite you to participate at this unique chess event in Aruba and wish you a pleasant stay on our “One Happy Island”. We can arrange rooms for you in Tropicana Resorts, Quality Appartments or Appartments in Oranjestad.

April 17, 2017

Aruba can be proud of it's participants at the 2017 Carifta Chess Championship in Jamaica. The Aruban players showed excellent progress in Kingston, finishing 4th in two categories.

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In the u20 absolute category, CM Jomar Benschop finished 4th behind the tournament favourites from Barbados, FM Orlando Husbands and FM Yu Tien Poon, and Malik Curriah from Jamaica.

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In the girls u12 category, Thamara SAGASTEGUI finished 4th behind competitors from Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad & Tobago.

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In the absolute u18 category, Brian Diaz and ACM Ilya STETSENKO scored 4.5 and 3.5 points out of 7. Considering their young age, this experience will definitely fuel their progress.

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Photo from coach Raymundo Dijkhoff

April 09, 2017

Over the course of two weekends we could enjoy some excellent games between Aruba's top-10 local players. This year the games were played at the Sindicato di Maestro di Aruba (SIMAR) and judged by international arbiter mr. Ulises Hernandez from Venezuela.

Leading the pack after the first weekend was youngster Brian Diaz, but Brian dropped to 3rd place after 9 rounds. Still a very good performance by Brian, showing some sublime opening skills.

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Second place with 7 out of 9 finished CM Jomar Benschop, staying just short of first place, missing out for only 0.5 point. Jomar showed that is tactical skills are second to none.

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Winner of the 2017 edition of Aruba's national championship, and our new National Master, is CM Octavio Croes. Octavio played very strong throughout the tournament, drawing Jose Pesquiera and losing only to Jomar Benschop, but winning the remainder of the field.  Congratulations to the champ!

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April 02, 2017

On Friday March 31st our National Championship took off at the Sindicato di Maestro di Aruba (SIMAR). Guided by our international arbiter from Venezuela, mr. Ulises Hernandez B., the players played five rounds during the weekend. Next weekend the remaining four rounds will be played.

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The ranking at the moment:

Diaz Brian 4,5

CM Benschop Jomar  3,5

Centeno Angel 3,5

CM Croes Octavio 3,5

CM Pesqueira Jose 3,0

Tromp Hubert Randolf 2,5

WFM Diaz Maria M.A. 2,0

Jacopucci Enrique 1,5

Diaz Maguina Daniel Eugenio 1,0

WCM Arbona Avila Zaily M. 0

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March 19, 2017

This year the Copa Himno y Bandera took place on the 17th, 18th and 19th of March. With competitions for the U-12, U-18 and Open groups. 

12 participants in the U-18 group played 5 rounds.  Third place went to Matthew Martinez with 3,5 points. Ethan Croeze, also with 3,5 points finished 2nd and Eldrick Donata won this year's edition of the tournament with an unbeaten record of 5 points out of 5. 

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A special medal was awarded to the best U-16 player, Thamara Sagastegui with 3 points out of 5, while Ayden Dirks became the best U-14 player with a score of  2.5 points.

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In the Open category 17 players participated,  Third place went to Woman FIDE Master Maria Diaz with 3,5 points out of 5.  Angel Centeno finished 2nd also with 3,5 points and with 4 points out of 5, the unbeaten champion of 2017 is Aruba's young prospect Candidate Master Jomar Benschop.

A special thanks to the Subsidy Commission to make the tournament possible with their financial contribution.

January 29, 2017

After 3 days of intense chess this national chess tournament came to an end. 

A total of 14 youth chess players registered for the U-18 Group, while 15 chess players registered for the Open Group. This was the first national chess tournament of this year and tournament director, CM Octavio Croes, and chief arbiter, CM Raymundo Dijkhoff, were very happy with the progress of the tournament, the amount of participants, the level of play, and the ambience.

Everybody present witnessed great tactical combinations, some nice checkmates and well played end games. And also surprise results which make a tournament more interesting.

Lesley Cielo, winner of the U-12 Group, also participated in the U-18 Group and surprised her opponents and everybody present with her strong play, while John Alexander Tromp, recently promoted to Group B, also surprised his opponents with his improved play and fighting spirit. Both these players received a prize.

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FM Maria Alejandra Vinck-Diaz played strong from the 1st round and couldn't be stopped on her way to win the Open Group. Besides the 2017 edition being won by a female player, the 2017 edition was also characterised by the very strong play by the young chess players in the open group. Youngsters CM Jomar Benschop and Brian Diaz managed to top the more experienced players in the group, while one of the youngest players in the open group, Ilya Stetsenko, had a very memorable performance in the tournament. The new generation has arrived!

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Open Group results:
1. FM Maria Alejandra Vinck-Diaz 4.0 (14.0 WP)
2. CM Jomar Benschop 4.0 (13.0 WP)
3. Brian Diaz 3.5

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December 25, 2019

A total of 14 young chess players participated in the U-12 category of the first national tournament of the year.

In a very sportsmanlike ambience the participants played 7 rounds of 15 minutes p/p rapid games. All the participants played as strong as possible and conform the tournament rules.

A couple of parents were present from the first round and stayed to the end. Other parents were present during the closing ceremony. Always nice to see parents giving moral support to their kids.

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Mr. Di-Stefano O. Wernet, Chairman of Fundacion Lotto pa Deporte, visited Aruba Chess Club during the lunch break. After enjoying his lunch he stayed to watch the games and was impressed with the young kids playing chess.

Chief arbiter, FI Maurits Dijkhoff, is very happy with the progress of the tournament, the behavior of the participants and the level of play. This time a girl was the overall winner!

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Final Standing:

U-12 Girls:
1st place: Lesley Cielo, 6-7
2nd place: Thamara Sagastegui, 4.5-7 (30.5 SB)
3rd place: Mia Mc Collum, 4.5-7 (25.0 SB)

Best U-10 player: Mary Jane Bueno, 0-6

Best U-8 player: Giandra Croes, 1-7

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U-12 Boys:
1st place: Cristhian Manuel, 5.5-7
2nd place: Kenneth Maurice, 4-7 (28.0 SB)
3rd place: Jeythan Crouch, 4-7 (21.5 SB)

Best U-10 player: Gillian Croes, 3-7

January 09, 2017

To be able to continue to promote chess in Aruba we need to cover various costs. The monthly financial contribution from members is important for our financial position.

To alleviate our coaches from the duty of collecting contributions from members/parents, we have established a contribution commission. The commission will make it easier for members/parents to contribute to the club. In the next two weeks members will be approached by the commission to explain the new policies.

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With the support of our members, we are sure that the new policies will benefit the beautiful sport of chess in Aruba. Our first request from the members is to assist us in completing our member database.

Please grant us two minutes of your time to submit your information by clicking on this link:

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December 15, 2016

Last Monday the Aruba Chess Federation organized it's anual X-Mas Dinner @ Kowloon Restaurant, in Oranjestad.

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A total of 60 chess players attended. In a nice ambience with christmas decorations, combined with many lights, and soft background music, the chessplayers started socializing with each other.

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CM Octavio Croes, president of the Aruba Chess Federation welcomed all present and invited all to keep on practicing chess. He also asked for the youthplayers, when finished with their studies, to come back to Aruba and re-join Aruba Chess Club.

Chess in Aruba is developing at high speed and we want to continue with the progress.

December 15, 2016

Four awards were given to the Best Youth Players in 2016:

1. Thamara Sagastegui (U-12 Girls)
2. Ethan Croeze (U-12 Boys)
3. Monica Bremo (U-21 Girls)
4. NM Mark Bueno (U-21 Boys)

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Promotions from Group C to Group B:
1. Jeshua McCollum 
2. Jean Carlos Alfaro
3. Lavesh Daryanani
4. Andres Arellano

Promotions from Group B to Group A:
1. Ayden-George Dirks
2. Vansh Mirchandani
3. Kabir Shetty
4. Lavesh Daryanani
5. Jean Carlos Alfaro
6. Andres Arellano
7. Jeandre Mena
8. Nathan Boekhoudt
9. Matthew Martinez

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January 01, 2020

A total of 19 young chess players participated in the Star Wars Chess Battle 2016.

The Aruba Chess Club was decorated with posters of Star Wars and toys to create a Star Wars ambience. One of the participants dressed up like Rey while another dressed up like Kylo Ren.

FINAL STANDING after 5 rounds:
Boys:
1. Kyell-Jean Antonio 5-5
2. Ethan Croeze 4-5 (17.0 wp)
3. Matthew Martinez (13.0 wp)
Girls:
1. Thamara Sagastegui 3-5 (15.5 wp)
2. Mia Mc Collum 3-5 (13.5)
3. Lesley Cielo 3-5 (13.0 wp)

Best Group B player: 4. Gian Croes 3-5

Best Group C player: 15. Aimara Ballestero 2-5

Best Group D player: 10. Kenneth Peña 2.5-5

CONGRATZ to all winners!
May the Force be with you all.

October 09, 2016

CM Jesus Alberto Molina Sumoza finished (with 6 points) tied with FM Jose Mora Moron but became the Aruba Chess Challenge winner on tie-break. FM Alexander Hernandez Jimenez (5 points) finished on third place. 

8 of the top 10 finishers were visiting from our neighbouring country Venezuela.

The other top-10 finishers were Jose Andrade Pautt (4,5 points), Giuseppe Boyer Censore (4 points), Aruba's own CM Jose Pesquiera (4 points), Ely Saul Sequera Gimenez (4 points), from Curacao CM Sherman Maduro (3,5 points), Luis Anibal Rodriguez (3,5 points) and CM Jose Alejandro Colina Nune (3,5 points).

August 29, 2016

Today Aruban participants of the Chess Olympiad departed from the Queen Beatrix International Airport on their way to Baku, Azerbaijan.

The Opening Ceremony will be held this Thursday and the first games will be played on Friday.

For more information on the Olympiad, click here:
www.bakuchessolympiad.com/

August 24, 2016

This week the last training sessions will be held for the players that will represent Aruba in the 42nd World Chess Olympiad, which will take place in Baku, Azerbadijan, from September 1 - 15.

This will mark the end of a period of intensified training sessions for both the Open and the Women team.

On the photo one of the training sessions, where the two teams faced each other in training games.

August 14, 2016

CM Jose Pesqueira and Enrique Jacopucci participated in an online arbiter course. The course was given by Santiago García Ramos (MEX) and was set up under the auspices of FIDE

August 12, 2016

Annelaine Jacobs' passion for sports and volunteerism have led her to win this years overall prize at the Poder di Hubentud ceremony. 

The Aruba Chess Federation is very proud of this accomplishment. Well deserved Annelaine!