THE JAMAICA CHESS Federation will stage the 2005 National Chess Championships for the under 18, 16, 14, 12 and 10 age groups, over the next two weekends at the RBTT Bank Headquarters in New Kingston.

Like last year the championships will be staged as two events. The first event will be open to juniors who were under the age of 14 years as at January 1, 2005. It is scheduled to take place this Saturday and Sunday, July 2 and 3, beginning at 9:00 a.m. each day. This tournament will determine the National Champions for the under 14, 12 and 10 age groups.

Chess players who were under the age of 18 at January 1, 2005 will compete in the second event. It is scheduled to take place July 9 and 10 beginning at 9 a. m. each day. This tournament will identify the National Champions for the under 18 and 16 age groups.

In the under 18 and 16 categories, the defending champion is 16 year-old Kevin Lyle, formerly of Wolmer's Boys, while in the under 14, 12 and 10 age groups, nine year-old Tewana Mellace of Rollington Town Primary is the defending champion.