The latter will be played at the end of June, although the precise date has yet to be set.
“We are still looking for the sponsors for the Rwanda chess open, so it might be that the interclub tournament will kick off first,” says Ferwade president Godfrey Kabera.
Kabera explained that in the next weeks players all over the country will be informed, but that the public will also be sensitized because the door is open to everyone who would like to participate.
“We still have a long way to go, so we are trying hard to do better,” Kabera says.
Currently Godfrey Kabera is Rwanda’s top rated player in the rankings of the World Chess Federation (FIDE) at the 23rd position, which makes him part of the world’s elite chess group of “Masters,” a title awarded by FIDE after a series of consistent performances on the international scene. This level is ranked behind the titles of FIDE Master, International Master and International Grand Master.
Kabera attributes his strong performance to the fact that he learnt the game at an early age. “I was taught by my father when I was still young, which made me develop a good character in terms of chess,” he explains.
Moreover, he says that chess is good for you because it stimulates the mind. “An international study has shown that 15% to 20% of children who play chess are doing better at school compared to others. That is because chess improves your thinking capacity,” Kabera explains.
He therefore argues that children should be introduced to chess at an early age, which is why Ferwade has set up a program to reach out to the grassroots. “We have a 5-year plan involving primary and secondary schools as well as institutions of higher learning, and we also want to strengthen the clubs in the country so that by 2013 Rwanda is among the top chess countries,” Kabera says.
He adds, however, that to get there the senior team is still looking for coaches.
Yet Ferwade is helped in its efforts by the World Chess Federation which amongst others has donated chessboards that will be distributed in schools and clubs. Kabera hopes that this will attract more people to the sports, because he says that although lots of people are playing the game, few do so at a competitive level.
And the federation also wants to entice more girls to playing chess. “We want to create a team of girls, as well as under-12 and under-17 teams, but we are still looking for funds,” Kabera says.
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