International youth chess event begins
The Glorney and Faber Cups to be contested, 26-30 July
(Filming/photo opportunity: Monday, July 26 - details at the end of this press release)
Scotland has been selected to host a prestigious four-day international chess tournament for youngsters from throughout Europe and the UK for the first time in over three decades. The University of Aberdeen has been invited to stage the Glorney and Faber Cups, from Monday 26-Friday 30 July, which is open to boys and girls under the age of 18.
Since inception over 50 years ago, selection for the Glorney or Faber teams has been traditionally regarded as the high point in the career of a European junior chess player.
The countries attending in this year's annual tournament include Belgium, Czech Republic, England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland. Around 60 young people and their national coaches and managers are expected in Aberdeen.
Scotland has the responsibility this year of hosting the event for the very first time in Aberdeen and the Aberdeen branch of Chess Scotland has been successful in winning the right to host the event in the city.
A Reception will be held on Monday, 26 July in the Linklater Rooms, University of Aberdeen, from 12.30-1.30pm, followed by the opening ceremony in the University's Elphinstone Hall (1.30-2.00pm).
Peter Macnab, Marketing Director, Chess Scotland and Chairman of the Glorney and Faber Organising Committee is looking forward to the four-day chess tournament and to welcoming guests from across the UK and Europe. He said: "We hope that we can, in Aberdeen, try further to encourage junior male and female chess players in our hosting of the event this year. It is a great honour for us to be hosting the event for the first time here in Aberdeen. It is hoped that through the continuation of the Glorney and Faber Cups that we can encourage the development and visibility of youth chess. ChessScotland hopes that through this competition youth chess can benefit and expand, and can promote friendly contests and social contact with the youth of other countries."
The event will formally be opened by Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning, Lewis Macdonald MSP, on behalf of The First Minister of the Scottish Assembly, and he will be expected to express the Scottish Executive's views on the importance of youth chess. Aberdeen City Council is a major sponsor of this event and the Lord Provost, John Reynolds, will welcome the competitors and accompanying officials to the city. Frank Doran MP, will make the symbolic first move against the Captain of the Scottish Faber team, and Professor Trevor Salmon PhD, Director of Teaching and Learning, University of Aberdeen, will make the symbolic first move against the Captain of the Scottish Glorney team, after which play will commence. The Chief Arbiter, Mr Alex McFarlane of Chess Scotland will then say a few words about the competition rules before the games begin.
The Glorney Cup was originally sponsored by a Dublin businessman, Mr C Parker Glorney, in 1948 and was conceived as a Boys' tournament between the four home nations. However, 20 years later, in 1968, it was joined by the Faber Cup (sponsored by Faber Books), a similar-styled event for Girls. However, these two Cups are now entirely financed by the hosting National Chess Federations and both competitions have since expanded over the years to include other European nations to make it a much stronger and truly international affair. The competitions, played over four days, are played in a different country each year.
Each participating country fields teams of five boys and three girls who are supervised by a Team Manager.
The year 2004 will mark the 56th year of the Glorney Cup and the 36th year of the Faber Cup. This year will mark the 56th year of the Glorney Cup (for boys) and the 36th year of the Faber Cup (for girls).