Fort Benning will host the Interservice Chess Tournament Sunday through May 9 at the Kelley Hill Recreation Center. Service members will compete for the top six spots and a shot at the NATO Chess Championship June 15-19 in Hammelburg, Germany.
"These chess players are the best of the best," said Noelle Phillips, recreation center branch manager, Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation. "And to make it to NATO is a big deal. It's the top chess championship in the world."
Phillips said the chess tournament is a good way to build camaraderie and esprit de corps among branches.
The Army hosts the Interservice Chess Tournament every four years. This is the first time it has been hosted anywhere other than Fort Myer, Va., Phillips said.
Contestants who compete in the interservice tournament were the top scorers during their respective branch championships.
The contestants will be scored in seven rounds as a team and individually. The top scoring team will take home a first-place trophy while the top six individual scorers will represent the U.S. Armed Forces in the NATO Chess Championship against military branches from around the world.
In the NATO championship, the contestants will play seven rounds in a Swiss system, where players will be matched against others within their skill level.
Chess matches will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Spectators are welcome and admission is free.
Social Sharing