The Brunei-Muara District Executive Chess Championship 2008 Committee for His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam's 62nd Birthday Celebration and the Brunei Chess Federation (BCF) yesterday announced that the first ever Brunei Internet Chess Blitz will be held on July 15 at 2 pm (GMT +8:00 or 2:00 ICC server time).

Registration for the tournament is free and is open to chess players from all over the world.

Hundreds of participants, including grandmasters, international masters and FIDE masters, are expected to participate in the 13-round, three-minute blitz and stand the chance to win US$1,500 in cash prize.

The event also offers a number of lucrative prizes for players from the BCF's chess centres.

The online chess tournament is co-organised by the Internet Chess Club (ICC), the world's premier online subscription chess service.

Brunei residents are welcome to join the tournament at the Brunei Chess Centre, Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex, and the Brunei Shell Recreation Club Chess Centre.

They are, however, advised to bring their own notebook computers due to the limited availability of computers at the venues.

To those who wish to play online, log on to the ICC server with its latest chess interface at least 10 minutes before the start of the tournament.

Meanwhile, yesterday saw the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the committee and sponsors Alif Technologies, PT Wai Illa Sarana Utama & Pt Talenta Pratama Mandiri, Pine Enterprise-Verde, and Adison Marketing Services at the Brunei Chess Centre.

The ceremony was attended by Assistant Brunei-Muara District Offcier Awang Haji Haris bin Othman as the guest of honour.

Signing on behalf of the committee was BCF President Awang Zainal Abidin bin Haji Mohd Ali, while Alif Technologies was represented by its chief executive officer, Pengiran Mohamad bin Pengiran Haji Kamaluddin, PT Wai Illa Sarana Utama & Pt Talenta Pratama Mandiri by its operation director Tarce Fatlolon, Pines Enterprise-Verde by its owner, Dayang Yuariana Kim binti Mohd Asman, and Adison Marketing Services by its manager Sim Chong Siang.

Other sponsors of the tournament include: the Empire Hotel and Country Club, i-Centre, Everyman Chess UK, London Chess Centre, Mutiara Shakila Nabilah Transportation Services, Royal Brunei Technical Services, Zisen Enterprise, PT Budi Gunawan, and PT El-Nusa.

Haji Zainal Abidin, in a speech at the signing, said extensive research has indicated that chess helps instil confidence and self-worth in young players, and can dramatically improve their ability to think rationally and increase their aptitude in recognising patterns, thus, help them obtain better grades in English and mathematics.

Like BCF's motto of "More Kids, More Chess, More Fun", he believed the tournament would draw participation from young local talents, further promoting the game of chess in the country.

The BCF president also predicted some 1,000 participants in the event, including locals as well as global rated and non-rated players.

"The event is a major leap for BCF and Brunei Darussalam as we embrace the advancement of ICT to organise an international tournament," he added.

He also felt that the tournament would cast Brunei in the international limelight, thus promoting the country as a tourist destination, and possibly, the choice to host prestigious chess tournaments.