Belizean Chess Players Head to Honduras for Regional Tournament

The Belize Chess Federation is excited to send two talented chess players to Tegucigalpa, Honduras next week for a regional tournament. The stakes are high, as the winner will earn a spot at the Chess World Cup 2025. Nathaniel Reyes, a proud member of the Belize National Chess Team, shares more about this thrilling competition.

 

Nathaniel Reyes, Chess Player, Belize National Chess Team

“So the tournament is being hosted in Honduras, in Tegucigalpa and it’s a pretty big one. Many countries will be participating such as Panama, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and more.  The tournament is going to consist of nine rounds, a Swiss system, with every match being ninety minutes with thirty seconds increment.  The tournament includes many prizes.  First place wins the person a coveted spot in the Chess World Cup, and second, third, fourth, fifth, and below come with cash prizes, trophies and more.”

 

Isani Cayetano

“Let’s talk a bit about your love for chess and your involvement with the sport at the federation level.”

 

Nathaniel Reyes

“Chess has always been a sport that I love dearly.  I learned how to play chess when I was eight years old.  My father taught me.  Chess has always been something that I play from time to time, over the years.  But as of a year ago, I started taking it a lot more seriously.  Last year was the first time that I represented Belize internationally in September, for the 2024 Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary.  I’d say that was the one event that really made me, really inspired me to pursue chess more seriously and professionally.”

 

Isani Cayetano

“How are you guys preparing, either individually or as a team at the federation level for the tournament on May thirteenth?”

 

Nathaniel Reyes

“So, as of right now the Belize Chess Federation is sending two players.  My teammate, Charlton Roches, and myself.  Me and my teammate, we’ve been getting together for practice games, studying together for the past few weeks and we feel like we’re well prepared for this tournament coming up.”